Trainer Peter Moody says if any of Black Caviar’s 11 rivals can beat the super mare in the Newmarket Handicap, stablemate Hinchinbrook could be the one.
The $1.25 favourite with TAB Sportsbet, Black Caviar is set to become the shortest-priced winner in Newmarket history which dates back to 1874.
The mighty Bernborough, who won the 1946 edition at the equivalent of $1.44, holds the record.
Bel Esprit four-year-old Black Caviar, ranked the best sprinter in the world, has to shoulder topweight of 58kg.
“Obviously this is her biggest test under the handicap conditions,” Moody said.
“I’d be very disappointed (if she got beaten) but I’ve got good respect for Hay List. She has to give him 1.5kg and she’s giving 5kg to Star Witness and 8kg to Hinchinbrook.
“He (Hinchinbrook) has pleased us no end since his run the other day (when third in the Oakleigh Plate) so it certainly isn’t going to be a walk in the park.”
Black Caviar meets runner-up Hay List 3.5kg worse under the handicap conditions for a 3-1/4-length thrashing of the John McNair-trained sprinter in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington last month.
But it is three-year-old Hinchinbrook who Moody seems most worried about.
“She’s going to know he’s there. He’s there to win and do his best,” the trainer said.
“It’s hard to say I’d be disappointed if he was the one to beat her but I’m very pleased with the colt.”
“His form indicates he could be the one to do it and Star Witness and Hay List have overseas starts pencilled in so it would be a waste of time taking him over if he couldn’t beat them on Saturday.
“So it’s a great opportunity to assess that formline with those two horses.”
Hay List could go to Singapore for the KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) at Kranji on May 22 while trainer Danny O’Brien is keen to take Star Witness to England for the King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot on June 14.
The only mare to win the Newmarket with more than 58kg was Pendant who carried 9st 7lb (60.5kg) when she won way back in 1906.
The only mare to win the Newmarket as topweight was Maybe Mahal who carried 56.5kg in 1978, while 1991 winner Shaftesbury Avenue (58kg) is the only winner in the last 50 years to carry 58kg or more.
Black Caviar will set a record of 10 straight metropolitan wins from her first start if successful in the $1 million 1200m sprint feature.
The record of nine unbeaten appearances was first set by 1880 Melbourne Cup winner Grand Flaneur and later equalled by Mollison in the 1930s, Eye Liner (1960s) and Rancher in the 1980s.
Hay List is second pick in the betting at $12, ahead of Star Witness ($17), Response ($21), with Beaded, Oakleigh Plate winner Eagle Falls and Hinchinbrook next best at $26.
AAP TURF
