Two of the best international racehorses, Singapore’s Rocket Man and South Africa’s JJ The Jet Plane, could possibly make the trip to Australian to take on the world’s highest-rated thoroughbred Black Caviar in the Spring Carnival’s Patinack Farm Classic.
Black Caviar is set to be tested against the top international horses in the 2011 Patinack Farm Classic
One of the premier sprint showdowns held during the annual Melbourne Cup Carnival at Melbourne’s iconic Flemington Racecourse, the $750,000 Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) will run on Emirates Stakes Day, Saturday November 5, 2011.
Peter Moody’s superstar Bel Esprit four-year-old Black Caviar, recently rated number one in the World Thoroughbred Rankings, will be out for back-to-back success in the Patinack Farm Classic.
Last spring Black Caviar broke her Group 1 maiden status with a scintillating four length win over Star Witness in the 2010 Patinack Farm Classic.
Having gained the world’s attention, Black Caviar is now likely to be tested against the best in the business with connections of a number of international stars naming the Patinack Farm Classic as a possible goal for their runners.
The Patrick Bernard Shaw-trained Viscount gelding Rocket Man, born in Australia but raced and trained in Singapore, is one sprinter tipped to take on Black Caviar in the spring.
Last start the talented five-year-old scored an impressive 2 ½ length win in the $800,000 Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1206m) on March 26 at Meydan, a race they ran a close second in last year.
The Golden Shaheen was Rocket Man’s 14th win from 18 career starts and connections may be lured to Australia to race against Black Caviar if the prize money is high enough.
“At some stage we will have to meet, somewhere to find which is the best horse,” Shaw told the Singapore Racing website.
The other overseas raider aimed at a possible clash with the queen is South African sprinter JJ The Jet Plane.
Rocket Man and JJ The Jet Plane met in the Hong Kong Sprint last year where JJ narrowly nudged out Rocket Man for the win in the $2.5 million Group 1 showdown at Sha Tin.
The duo is set to renew their rivalry in the KrisFlyer Sprint at Singapore in mid May before a possible battle with the world’s best sprinter Down Under.
Black Caviar’s next race will be the $1 million Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick’s AJC Derby Day this Saturday, April 9.
In the TJ Smith Stakes Black Caviar makes her Sydney debut and will attempt to extend her unbeaten record to 12 straight, starting one of the shortest-priced favourites in Australian racing history.
