Like everyone else, Southern Speed’s trainer Leon Macdonald is in awe of Black Caviar.
Unlike everyone else he has a horse who could possibly test the champion over the 1400 metres of Saturday’s Group One C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield if there is a chink in her armour at the distance.
Southern Speed, the winner of the Caulfield Cup, goes into the race off a brilliant first-up 1400m win on Australia day, the day before Black Caviar extended her unbeaten record to 17 at Moonee Valley.
“Black Caviar was awesome,” Macdonald said.
“She looks unbeatable and we look like we’re running for second but we’re not backing away from the fight.”
Southern Speed is the best credentialled horse Black Caviar has met since she beat Hay List in three Group One races last autumn.
“Southern Speed pulled up well from and looks a million dollars,” Macdonald said.
“She’s probably the most capable one there to take Black Caviar on.
“Her sectionals from the John Dillon were excellent and she came home the last 600 metres in 33.7 (seconds) the last 400 in 22.5 and the last furlong in 11.1.”
Nominations for the race will be taken on Monday.
No matter what happens on Saturday, Southern Speed has other Group One races in her sights.
After the Orr, she runs in the Group Two St George Stakes then takes aim at the Group One weight-for-age treble of the Australian Cup (2000m), Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and the BMW (2400m).
The Orr Stakes will be Black Caviar’s first attempt at 1400 metres, a distance trainer Peter Moody says she needs to be able to run strongly in order to compete in England where her targets are the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot in June and the July Cup.
“I want to see her strong at the end of 1400 metres if she is to run out the 1200 on those uphill tracks in England,” Moody said.
Moody has not ruled out bringing Black Caviar back to the 1000 metres of the Lightning Stakes a week after the Orr.
“She will have to have a 1000 metre gallop at Caulfield that morning so we might as well go to Flemington for prize money,” he said.
Entry to Caulfield on Saturday will be free with the Melbourne Racing Club hoping to get a crowd of 30,000 plus to see the champion mare.
AAP TURF
