Peter Moody has reiterated his reticence about taking unbeaten superstar Black Caviar overseas to prove her worth on the international stage.
The world’s highest rated sprinter and second overall behind unbeaten English champion Frankel, Black Caviar will strive for her 17th successive win when she resumes in Friday night’s Group Two Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
“She’s done a pretty good job thus far and she can only beat what’s put in front of her,” Moody said.
“I think it’s ridiculous the fact that she’s got to go overseas to prove herself the best sprinter in the world when our horses have been proven the best.
“She’s going to travel three-quarters of the way around the world to race inferior opposition for much inferior prizemoney.
“It doesn’t make a lot of sense but let’s do it.”
The trainer will meet with Black Caviar’s owners next week to discuss the overseas options, including the Royal Ascot and Dubai carnivals.
He said the Royal Ascot carnival was on the owners’ wish list and he was “more than happy to abide by it”.
But on the down side, he pointed out she would miss some rich sprints in Australia as a result.
He also cited as negatives the risks involved with travelling horses, lengthy quarantine periods, and the fact she’s a mare, not a hardy gelding such as international Group One winner Takeover Target.
While she is only lightly-raced for a five-year-old, Black Caviar’s hulking frame means injury is also a constant risk.
“She’s probably at the stage of her career where any run she has now could be the farewell,” Moody said.
Despite Moody’s fears, this season is shaping as a pivotal one for Black Caviar.
He has long wanted to extend her to 1400m and will get that chance at her second and third runs in the C F Orr and Futurity Stakes, both at Caulfield next month.
If she remained unbeaten, Moody would love to see her go for win number 20 in Australia.
He threw in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) under lights at Moonee Valley on March 23 as the possible race in which she could break the record of 19 successive wins, held by Gloaming and Desert Gold in the southern hemisphere, and by Zenyatta in the US.
The Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in June and the July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket are currently on Black Caviar’s program.
But that hinges on her running a strong “seven” (1400m) in Australia, which he believes is required to get 1200m on the undulating tracks in England.
“We could always come back to something like the King’s Stand (at Royal Ascot) at 1000 metres,” Moody said.
Black Caviar faces six rivals on Friday night and it should prove to be another stroll in the park.
TAB Sportsbet has posted Black Caviar as a virtually unbackable $1.02 favourite, or 1-50 in fractional odds, for the $200,000 weight-for-age event.
Zedi Knight is second pick at $19 with Moody’s other runner Doubtful Jack next at $26.
AAP TURF
