Black Caviar is likely to back up in next Saturday’s Lightning Stakes after she romped to her eighth Group One success and her 18th consecutive victory in the CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield.
The unbeaten world champion sprinter, sent out $1.05 favourite, gave Luke Nolen an armchair ride at her first test at 1400m in beating reigning Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed ($16) by 3-1/4 lengths with Playing God ($61) a half-length away third.
“To see her go out and do that to good horses is unbelievable,” trainer Peter Moody said.
“I suggested to Luke and I’d be lying if I didn’t say otherwise that I’m seriously considering taking her to Flemington next week (to run in the Lightning Stakes).
“People might think it a greed issue but we’ve never pushed her or done a lot with her.
“And the ease of that. We’re going to have to do more work with her next Saturday morning to have her ready for the Futurity than she did here this afternoon.
“If she comes through this great there’s a chance you’ll see her in seven days and if she comes through that great there’s a chance you’ll see her in seven days again.”
Black Caviar equalled the 18 metropolitan wins in succession posted by Ajax between 1937 and 1939 and will equal the Australasian record held jointly by Gloaming and Desert Gold if she makes it 19 wins in a row next start.
If she does run in and win the Lightning (1000m) and then the Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 25, Moody will have been granted his wish for Black Caviar to win 20 races straight before she ventures to England.
Her missions in England are the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and the July Cup at Newmarket, both over 1200m.
The Bel Esprit mare won last year’s Lightning by 3-1/4 lengths from Hay List.
Black Caviar travelled sweetly for Nolen in fourth spot after she jumped from gate five in the nine-horse field with Danzlyum leading from Midas Touch and Doubtful Jack racing inside his stablemate.
“If you were writing a script, that’s how you’d want it to play out,” Nolen, who has been aboard the five-year-old in 15 of her wins including her last 10, said.
“It’s a great privilege to be part of such a wonderful story.
“I gave her a shake for 50 yards (metres) or so, then I throttled down.
“I just slipped her a bit of rein from the three (furlongs, 600m) when the pressure came on in the race and she’s used to working from the three here at Caulfield and it was game on.
“She got there with relative ease, travelled strongly past the leaders, I gave her a shake for 50 yards and then just let her coast.”
AAP TURF
