Champion Black Caviar will have another modern day sprinting idol for company on Saturday when she is led onto the Caulfield track by Hong Kong hero Silent Witness.
Black Caviar equalled the dual Hong Kong Horse of the Year’s feat of 17 straight wins from debut with another effortless display in the Australia Stakes on January 27.
The wonder mare is expected to surpass Silent Witness’ achievement in Saturday’s Group One CF Orr Stakes, her first test over 1400m.
Silent Witness went to uncharted territory of 1400m in his 17th start in Hong Kong in 2005 and was victorious before stepping up in distance again when narrowly beaten for the first time in the Group One Champions Mile (1600m).
The Australian-bred star finished his career with 18 wins from 28 starts before being retired in 2007.
He was the world’s top ranked sprinter for three seasons and was named in Time Magazine’s Top 100 influential people of 2004, such was his popularity in Hong Kong.
Now a resident at Living Legends in Melbourne, Silent Witness will lead the CF Orr field out with former star Aussie sprinter Apache Cat also part of the promotion.
“Having Silent Witness and Apache Cat joining a modern-day champion at Caulfield just adds another dimension again to what already shapes as a sensational day,” Melbourne Racing Club’s chief executive Alasdair Robertson said.
“Apache Cat was an unforgettable racehorse that developed a cult following during his career so it will be great to see that baldy face again.
“But Australian racing fans should look particularly forward to seeing Silent Witness, an Australian-bred that was crowned World Champion Sprinter three times but never raced here.
“That Black Caviar is set to outdo his record of 17 straight wins from debut just adds even more romance to the occasion.”
The MRC is throwing the gates to Caulfield open and says it can cater for as many people as turn up, with predictions as high as 35,000.
Chairman Mike Symons said the day was not a traditional crowd puller and it was a way to get as many people to see Black Caviar as possible.
“Orr Stakes day usually has a crowd of around 8000 and of those around 5000 are members,” he told TVN.
“We want as many people there as possible to see Black Caviar and maybe if they have a good day they will come back.”
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