Black Caviar will face only four rivals when she goes for her 15th straight win in Saturday’s Group Two Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley.
The reigning Horse of the Year will meet 2008-09 Horse of the Year Scenic Blast for the first time as she tries to emulate the winning streaks of the legendary Carbine and Bernborough.
And bookmakers say she will do it easily.
The world champion sprinter is at $1.04 (1-25) with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Scenic Blast at $14, Balavan at $21, Black Caviar’s stablemate Doubtful Jack at $26 and Here De Angels at $51.
It is also offering a “Black Caviar out” market which has Scenic Blast $2.40 favourite over Balavan at $2.80, Doubtful Jack at $3.80 and Here De Angels at $7.50.
The winner of the 2009 Lightning Stakes (1000m) and Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington and King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot in the UK, seven-year-old gelding Scenic Blast hasn’t raced for 11 months.
He was placed in three of five runs in the US including a second in the Grade One Bing Crosby Stakes (1200m) at Del Mar.
“He’s obviously been off the scene for a fair while but is back in good nick,” trainer Dan Morton said.
“He hasn’t raced for quite a while so realistically he’s going to need the run on Saturday.
“But we’re looking forward to running him in the Patinack Farm Classic down the straight (at Flemington on November 5).
“If he can come back to anywhere near his best form, hopefully he’ll be competitive.
“Obviously Black Caviar is there and she should be too good for anything.”
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