Unbeaten world champion sprinter Black Caviar makes her much awaited return to the racetrack in this afternoon's G1 Lightning Stakes down the straight 1000m at Flemington.
Photo by Racing and Sports
And with the great Frankel now retired, the eyes of the world will certainly focus entirely on her.
The prestigious sprint now named in her honour has attracted a small field, seven opponents lining up to end the great mares’ unbeaten twenty-two start winning record.
The race does provide and interesting aside as it assembles “new blood” to challenge her. Just one of her seven rivals, Adelaide-based sprinter Go The Knuckle has met Black Caviar previously when beaten 11 lengths in the G1 Goodwood at Morphettville last May.
While he is not expected to trouble her today, handy stablemates Moment Of Change]/n] and Golden Archer along with the consistent First Command, Satin Shoes and Shamexpress do provide valid opposition.
[n]Black Caviar has not been back to the races since her heart stopping last stride win in the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last June, a victory that at the time was readily anticipated would be her last before retirement.
However trainer Peter Moody and Black Caviar clearly had other ideas. After a long spell to recover from the injuries she suffered during that race combined with an arduous overseas travel schedule, Moody has declared the mare the best she has ever been – some statement indeed.
In fact she resumes off a 238 day break today, her second longest layoff in her 22 start career. The great mare had 260 days away from the track recovering from injury when winning her sixth race start at Caulfield. In any case, fresh up horses in the Lightning Stakes have an excellent record winning 13 of the last 15 renewals.
Timeform rated 136, making her equal top rated filly or mare with Allez France and Habibti in Timeform history, it is unlikely Black caviar will need to run anything like that under the weight for age conditions of today’s race where she receives a two kilo mares allowance.
In fact if every horse ran to form in the race, Black Caviar would have a theoretical weight advantage of between 21 and 53 pounds or in lengths between five and fourteen lengths over her rivals for the 1000m scamper.
Obviously there are no concerns about any aspect of the race for Black Caviar- she is undefeated in seven runs at Flemington, five at 1000m and will become the first horse in the Lightning Stakes history to win the race three times since it was first run in 1955 and upgraded to Group one status in 1987.
Another group one success for the mare takes her tally to 13, equalling the mighty Sunline and Tie The Know and putting her one behind Kingston Town on the all time Australian Group one tally board for the modern era.
Looking for the main dangers, potential says Shamexpress and proven group one ability says Moment Of Change.
Good three-year-old sprinters have a good record in the Lightning Stakes and although Shamexpress has some way to go to fit the profile of successful three-year-olds in the past, I am certain he will run well.
The colt will be second run back after light juvenile and spring three-year-old campaigns, but gave an indication that he has made significant progress during his summer break with a most impressive fresh up win at Moonee Valley over 1000m, connections immediately setting him on a sprinting campaign this time in.
Under 60kgs with Glen Boss in the saddle, Shamexpress sat off the pace early before rushing home to win with plenty to spare running to a Timeform rating of 104+, well short of his spring master rating of 116, the form subsequently being franked with the runner up winning comfortably next time out.
Shamexpress will need to run to at least 116 today if he is to get into the frame, but it is worth noting that his peak rating was achieved down the Flemington straight in the Coolmore classic behind classy filly Nechita on Derby day.
The Coolmore Classic is rapidly gaining a reputation as a good form race and Shamexpress looks set to reinforce that perception today.
Last start group one winner and stablemate of Black Caviar, Moment Of Change resumes off a 168 day break having taken the Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield from We’re Gonna Rock.
That victory earned Moment Of Change a Timeform rating of 119 his current master figure.
Moment Of Change has an excellent fresh up record of two wins and a placing from only three attempts but is yet to race at Flemington or down a straight course.
That should not be a problem for such a promising sprinter, however his best form has been over slightly longer distances than the 1000m he encounters today.
The five time winner from just nine race starts faces his biggest test here under less than optimal conditions, effectively racing for second prizemoney.
Moody’s third runner in the race is accomplished 1000m sprinter Golden Archer who also resumes from a spell.
Golden Archer has a good record down the straight 1000m at Flemington of two wins and a second from three starts while his overall record at Flemington is three wins from six runs.
Not unlike Moment Of Change, Golden Archer also Timeform rated 119 goes very well fresh up winning two of his three attempts but having to concede two kilos to Black Caviar is a nigh on impossible task for the consistent galloper.
While he is likely to be with the speed from barrier one, he does not have the ratings to match it with the mare.
The same scenario applies to First Command who is Timeform rated 118. A winner of two of his last three runs at 1000m, as his rating suggests the gelding is more comfortable racing in group 3 type company. He will find it hard to keep up once the pressure is applied.
There is not much left to achieve in the historical sense for Black Caviar but this is one last occasion for her to re write the record books yet again – three G1 Lightning Stakes victories to mark her 23rd straight win – no horse has ever done that....until now.
Sit back and enjoy the moment.
