She is Australian racing’s darling, a true turf champion that is yet to taste defeat in an incredible 24-start career to date that has included an impressive 14 Group 1 triumphs, but Black Caviar continues to ease in the TJ Smith Stakes 2013 odds ahead of start number 25 this weekend.
Black Caviar may be the odds-on 2013 TJ Smith Stakes favourite but her price is easing. Photo: Taron Clarke.
After opening around $1.08 in the markets for the $1 million Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), running as the last at Royal Randwick on Australian Derby Day on Saturday, the brilliant Peter Moody-trained daughter of Bel Esprit is now right out to $1.12.
Yes, $1.12 is a short price for any other horse but for the greatest mare in the world? It’s definitely generous.
So why are the odds on Black Caviar next race drifting?
Well for starters she’s actually racing against something this time.
Arguably she really hasn’t faced any kind of credible challengers, her Royal Ascot trip aside, in well over a year with the country’s top sprinters avoiding the Black Caviar races knowing they would be up for second at best.
This time however the Sydney horses are out in force with the likes of The Galaxy winner Bel Sprinter ($9) out for their shot and arch nemesis Hay List ($26) back to renew the rivalry having tasted defeat at the hands of the Black Flash five times previously including the TJ Smith Stakes two years back when she ran him down and put three lengths between them by the line.
There’s also the fact Black Caviar hasn’t raced in Sydney since the 2011 TJ and that the jockey’s for Saturday have been vocal about not letting her get away with a big win easily.
Moody however remains unperturbed by what’s going on in the TJ Smith Stakes betting markets, confident his money maker has the goods to produce again after travelling to Sydney in excellent order.
“She came off the truck just as well as she went on it,” he said.
“She’s done all the work she needs to do and she’s done it as well as she ever has.
“Facts and figures suggest there’s not another horse on the planet that can beat her under these conditions over this distance.
“Plenty of them (the Sydney jockeys) have ridden against her before, and they’re probably still using Vaseline to cover up the windburn,” he said.
No horse in the TJ Smith Stakes odds has firmed in their price to score an upset with the Jason Warren-trained Bel Sprinter (barrier two) remaining the steady second pick.
The price on last year’s TJ Smith Stakes runner-up Rain Affair has however moved right out from $21 to $26 despite their credible first-up fourth behind subsequent George Ryder Stakes champ Pierro in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill last month.
Whether you’re for or against the superlative Black Caviar winning this weekend you can bet on the TJ Smith Stakes, and the other Derby Day races, with confidence online at bookmaker.com.au knowing they are 100 percent Australian owned, operated and trusted!
