Peter Moody is keen to see superstar Black Caviar very strong at the end of the 1400 metres of the CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday with a view to her upcoming trip to Royal Ascot.
The wonder mare, unbeaten in 17 runs up to 1200m, has to gallop 200m further than ever before but Moody said he had every confidence she would handle it.
“It’s something I’ve always talked up and wanted to see happen,” he said.
“I’ve always felt she’d be just as explosive if not more so out to 1400 metres and I’ve suggested even possibly a mile (1600m) so this is a step in that direction on Saturday.
“I want to see her strong at the end of 1400 metres to give me a positive to going to the solid 1200s in England on those undulating tracks.
“It’s something I’m looking forward to having a look at and assessing that we do go to those races.”
Moody confirmed that the major goal this preparation was the Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in June while the Golden Shaheen (1200m) at Meydan on the Dubai World Cup card on March 31 was also in the mix.
Moody said he would fly to Dubai to have a look at the Tapeta surface at Meydan after Black Caviar runs in the Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 25 if she was going to run in the Golden Shaheen.
While Moody wants to see Black Caviar strong to the line in the Orr, he doesn’t want to see her having a gut-buster either.
“I just want to see how she goes about it. She’s not out to be running records or (win by) big margins.
“I’ve got every confidence in her ability to run it (1400m),” Moody said.
“Horses like Southern Speed are going to be coming at you the last furlong (200m).
“I don’t think anything’s effortless. I don’t think the fact Luke (Nolen) has eased her down, it’s only been a matter of strides, and the times she’s run suggest she’s never had a soft run in her life.
“People look at it and say `God she’s gone easy’ but the times suggest otherwise.”
The Melbourne Racing Club is expecting a crowd of 25,000 to 30,000 to turn up to see the unbeaten champion go for her 18th win in the Group One race, a day which chief executive Alisdair Robertson said had recently been attracting 6000 to 8000.
“It’s pretty special event, that’s why we’ve thrown the gates open and let’s have a great day,” Robertson said.
Victory in the Orr would bring Black Caviar up to the 18 metropolitan wins in succession posted by Ajax between 1937 and 1939.
Gloaming and Desert Gold share the Australasian record of 19 wins in a row.
AAP TURF
