Queensland-bred horseman Peter Moody has expressed his desire to return to his inaugural state during this year’s Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival so that his turf queen Black Caviar can defend her title in the BTC Cup 2012 and race into the history books yet again in front of a big crowd of Maroon fans.
Black Caviar could return to Brisbane this winter to defend her title in the 2012 BTC Cup
Undefeated sprint star Black Caviar, who recently achieved the title of the highest-ever ranked mare, Australian-trained horse and sprint champion in the World Thoroughbred Rankings, is 16 and not out having won all of her career starts to date.
Win No. 13 during her incredible reign came at Doomben when the superlative five-year-old became a six-time consecutive Group 1 winner, she now has seven elite levels, putting two lengths on perennial rival Hay List in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) in Mid may.
She is getting dangerously close to equaling, and then odds are surpassing, the 19 consecutive race winning record of the now-retired champion American mare Zenyatta and Moody hopes it will be in Australia where she does so.
Black Caviar has a busy year ahead with an autumn campaign in Melbourne where she will be tested over 1400 metres for the first time before she embarks on her first international campaign targeting European glory during the Ascot Carnival in July.
Last seen racing away to an emphatic turf triumph in the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) for the second year in a row at Flemington on November 5 during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Black Caviar is scheduled to resume racing in a fortnight.
Moody has the $200,000 Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) under the lights at Moonee Valley on January 27 penciled in as his stable favourite’s resuming run.
She is then set to shoot for Group 1 win number eight at Caulfield in the $400,000 Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) on February 2.
Following the 2012 CF Orr Black Caviar’s next major assignment could be the $750,000 Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) back over a short sprint distance at Flemington on February 18, an unusual campaign as she would then be going back up to 1400 metres for the $500,000 Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on February 25.
“In the week between the Orr and Futurity there is the Lightning Stakes over 1000 metres,” Moody said.
“It might be a good option because she would probably be having a gallop over 1000 metres that morning to get ready for the Futurity.”
Running in the Lightning Stakes would also ensure that the Futurity Stakes 2012 would be start, and hopefully win, No. 19 for Black Caviar meaning she would equal Zenyetta’s record on home soil before heading overseas.
“I’m parochial enough to want Australians to have the chance to enjoy that moment,” Moody said.
There is pressure on Moody to then present Black Caviar on the world stage, connections wanting her to race in England’s mid-year racing carnival at Royal Ascot.
There are again a number of options for Black Caviar there.
Her most likely target will be the Golden Jubilee Stakes over 1200 metres, but if she proves herself over 1400 metres at home the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes over 1600 metres on the opening day of Royal Ascot becomes a possibility.
“Everything is geared to Royal Ascot,” Moody said.
“We will see how we get through the Orr and the Futurity before we decide what is the best play.”
Upon her return down under, Moody then hopes to indulge in his own desire and showcase her in Brisbane again.
“I’ve got to say I had the most pleasurable day I’ve ever had at the races when we went to the BTC Cup last year,” Moody recalled fondly.
The $400,000 Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) runs at Doomben on May 12.
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