Black Caviar’s trainer Peter Moody has raised the stakes in the battle over tactics by declaring the mare could lead in Saturday’s Group One BTC Cup at Doomben.
It is widely anticipated, particularly by rival trainer Rob Heathcote, that Victory Stakes winner Buffering will take up the leader’s role in the 1200m feature.
John McNair has declared his hand by announcing he’d prefer Hay List to sit off the pace despite the giant five-year-old leading throughout in his Group One All-Aged Stakes win at Randwick last month.
Moody uses a barrier blanket on Black Caviar to calm her in the gates and concedes it has cost her up to a length at the start.
“But there’s no doubt if Luke (Nolen) wanted to lead on her then she could be in front,” Moody said.
“She showed in Melbourne she can run 10-and-a-half seconds on the bridle and if the other two (Buffering and Hay List) don’t want to lead then she can.
“I’ll leave that up to Luke at the time.
“I wouldn’t like to see her give Hay List four lengths like she did when we won the TJ (Smith).
“I don’t want my heart in my mouth like what happened at Randwick that day.”
Moody believes Black Caviar is close to her peak for the first Group One of the Brisbane winter carnival.
“She’s loving it up here and the weather is fantastic,” he said.
“I thought she really found her feet last week and I noticed a big improvement from Saturday to yesterday how her coat has turned.”
Moody said he doubted Black Caviar would head to the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm next month.
All going well after the BTC Cup, Black Caviar will start next in the Group One Doomben 10,000 on May 28.
“I’ve nominated her for the Stradbroke but after she won the Newmarket Handicap I said then it would be her last handicap race,” Moody said.
“The Winter Stakes would be more realistic than the Stradbroke but I never say never.
“She’s the star on Saturday and I just hope she’s still the star on Sunday.”
Moody said in the long term he hoped to extend Black Caviar out in distance and remained lukewarm about an overseas trip next year.
“There’s a hell of a lot of good opportunities here,” he said.
“It (overseas) is an option and Hong Kong is probably first but I’m parochial and I love Australia.
“Why do we need to leave this to go there?”
Black Caviar is unbeaten in 12 starts but in a scary suggestion, Moody thought the mare still had further improvement to come.
“I think she’s got more improvement and growth in her and she’s 100 per cent sound,” he said.
Moody said there was no mention of retirement for Black Caviar in the immediate future.
“She can only have one foal a year. It would be different if she was a colt when they are normally rushed off to stud,” he said.
AAP TURF
