Victoria’s leading trainer Peter Moody is confident the old Black Caviar that the Australian public and racing world fell in love with will be back this Saturday when the undefeated turf queen resumes racing in the 2013 Lightning Stakes.
Black Caviar vies for her third consecutive win in the Lightning Stakes this Saturday. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
The brilliant daughter of Bel Esprit has won the past two editions of the famous Flemington sprint and looks on track to make it a history-making third consecutive win in the newly renamed $500,000 Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m).
Racing fans down under are keener than ever to cheer the $6.8 million earner on for her 23rd win too after her last start was a narrow victory in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1207m) in Britain back in June.
Sidelined for some time after that with doubts about another racing season surfacing after Black Caviar was injured during that international effort, the world’s top-rated mare has proven to Moody that she is ready to get back to the business of racing this autumn.
And Moody is also confident that it will be a much happier and healthier ‘Black Flash’ on show this weekend than the one that was on display at Royal Ascot when at the end of her prep after watching her gallop at Caulfield last Saturday.
“That was the Black Caviar of old,” Moody said on Tuesday speaking of her effort on Saturday.
“That was going back to win 17 and 18.
“That’s what I wanted to see to give me a positive to go back to the races.
“She’s in the best physical shape injury wise that she’s ever been in.
“She’s worked nicely since the gallop at Caulfield, she’s handled everything well.
“At the end of last preparation she was a bit cranky, swishing her tail and turning her head.”
Win #17 was a first-up romp by 4.5 lengths in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley last January which she followed with a 3.5 length effort over Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) before successfully defending her Lightning Stakes title.
The 2013 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes drew 15 nominations but the final field, due for release on Wednesday, is set to be much smaller with a number of notable defectors already named including Mick Price’s Blue Diamond Stakes winner Samaready.
Moody however plans to accept for two of Black Caviar’s stablemates with both Golden Archer and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner Moment Of Change in the mix.
When it comes to having a bet on Black Caviar next race make sure you’ve got access to the country’s premier Lightning Stakes betting odds and options including exclusive Pick Your Own Odds markets by signing up with bookmaker.com.au today!
