The racing season of 2010/11 will be remembered as the season we saw the emergence of two of the best horses we have seen in So You Think and Black Caviar. And it was made even more special because they had some very stiff competition.
So You Think is a star and just a pleasure to watch when he lines up, both in Australia and in Europe. But we have seen nothing like Black Caviar and I doubt we will see another one like her.
So You Think blitzed his rivals in the Underwood, the Yalumba, the Cox Plate and the Mackinnon before running a gallant third behind Americain in the Melbourne Cup. In any other year, he’d be talked up as the modern day ‘big red’, Pharlap. But he has to settle for second place behind Peter Moodys mighty mare.
Yes, she does spank her rivals consistently and does it in awesome time, but you have to remember she was up against John McNairs hulking sprinter Hay List. If the great mare wasn’t around, this bloke would be regarded as one of the best sprinters in the world. In fact, he probably is one of the best sprinters in the world. But whenever these two champions clash, in all honesty, it’s not a contest in the end.
Black Caviar has given racing much need positive publicity for the general media after the extraordinary events that took place at Warnambool in May. She has countless facebook pages made in her honour and her own profile page has just under 5000 friends.
They weren’t the only horses that made us stand and cheer. More Joyous was outstanding throughout the season, winning countless group races and claiming several group one races. Due to injury, we won’t be seeing her until late into the Spring.
And let’s not forget Sepoy, one of the best juveniles we have seen for many years. He became the first horse in over 20 years to claim the Blue Diamond/Golden Slipper double. Bel Esprit couldn’t do the double, nor could Alinghi, so hopefully this wonder colt can continue on his winning ways heading into the Spring carnival.
Peter Snowden was outstanding, clean sweeping all the group one races for the babies with Sepoy, Helmet and Benfica. It is a feat which has never been achieved. The Darley two year olds completely dominated the season and are sure to be improved even further heading into the future.
But all honours with Peter Moody. Not just for doing a wonderful job with Black Caviar, but with the way he had a stranglehold on racing with Melbourne. Besides Black Caviar, Moody won three other group one races with Anacheeva (Caulfield Guineas), Typhoon Tracy (C F Orr) and Lights Of Heaven (SA Oaks), who is shaping up to be the trainer’s best chance of winning either the Caulfield Cup or Melbourne Cup.
Luke Nolen was perfect with Black Caviar throughout the season. He knew he was on the best sprinter in the world and he didn’t lose his cool once while others may have struggled to cope with the pressure of riding such a fantastic horse. Also got to mention Corey Brown for his efforts in the season as well as Jason Taylor, who rode one of the best races to get Sincero home in the Stradbroke and Damian Browne, who in terms of strike rates, is one of Australia’s best and he was faultless.
One topic that has come up form last season was the poor form shown by three year olds against the older horses in group one races. From memory, only Playing God (Kingston Town Classic), Lone Rock (Goodwood Handicap), Sincero (Stradbroke Handicap) and Yosei (Tatt’s Tiara) were the only youngsters to win. Here’s hoping that changes in the upcoming season.
The shining light for me was the fact that Australia got to see kiwi whiz kid James McDonald. The kiwis have had Shane Dye, Jimmy Cassidy, Michael Walker and Lisa Cropp, but this kid, potentially, could be miles better than those four mentioned. He has the strength of a senior rider and yet he is only 18. His ride on Scarlett Lady in the Oaks was that of a world class rider and I am tipping he’ll be collecting some big races on that mare when they come to Melbourne.
Written by Adam Page
