Champion sprinter Black Caviar has run her last race for the year with trainer Peter Moody deciding against a trip to Perth for the Winterbottom Stakes.
Moody told racing officials on Monday that the unbeaten five-year-old would be spelled after he was unhappy with how she pulled up following her 16th win in the Patinack Farm Classic on Saturday.
“She knows she’s had a run,” Moody told Radio Sport National.
“She is a little bit jarry and has a little muscle tear up high behind.
“It is nothing too dramatic but just enough to suggest to us, after consultation with the owners, that she will have a little rest rather than go to Perth, unfortunately.”
Moody said the risk of travelling to Perth after a tough spring campaign was too great.
“These races look effortless but they are not,” the trainer said.
“They are Group One races. They run fast time.
“Saturday, the track was a bit firm. We knew that.
“So we went there knowing that and she has come out of it, I wouldn’t say worse for wear, but she has come out of it feeling the run.
“If she was racing here in two weeks it would be a great chance she would be going around but the fact we have got to travel across the continent to do it in strange circumstances, we are not going to risk that.
“She has done a good job and I don’t think anyone would begrudge her a few weeks off.”
Moody said Black Caviar would now have three weeks off and kick off her 2012 campaign in the Group One Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley on January 27.
Moody believes it will be her best campaign yet as he pushes her beyond 1200 metres for the first time ahead of a proposed trip to England for the Royal Ascot meeting in June.
Black Caviar’s absence from the Winterbottom is a major disappointment for Perth racing officials who were banking on her drawing power for the race on November 19.
She was $1.10 favourite to win the Winterbottom but her absence has paved the way for unbeaten six-time Perth winner Barakey to contest the feature.
TAB Sportsbet has installed him $2.30 favourite after trainer Jim Taylor gave the galloper a “60/40” chance of running.
Flemington Oaks Day winner Ortensia ($3) is set to lead a eastern states invasion while the Peter Snowden-trained Rarefied ($12) is also expected to make the trip.
AAP TURF
