No neighbours! Black Caviar banks 23 on the head in the Lightning!
The brilliant Black Caviar took her unbeaten trot to 23 at Flemington Racecourse today when steamrolling her opposition to win the Black Caviar Lightning in record time.
In the Black Caviar Lightning, named in her honour and which she won for the third successsive year – the only horse to do so since the race’s inception in 1955 – the world-renowned sprinter cruised to victory over stable mates Moment Of Change and Golden Archer before 27,046 fans on-course.
Another set of numbers, 55.42, gained significance. Black Caviar ran the 1000 metres in 55.42 seconds and broke the track record that has belonged to Special for the past 25 years.
In hot conditions and in effortless fashion, Black Caviar ran 800-600m in 10.37 seconds, 600-400m in 10.21 seconds, 400-200m in 10.17 seconds and 200m-winnning post iin 11.05 seconds.
“Shit. It’s good to have her back,” Moody said with a tear in his eye.
“I said to my girls that it was the first time I’d been nervous in a long time. I suppose it was the seven-month break.
“We thought it was over, but to comeback, do that and run a record. Crikey, I’m lost for words.
“I’m just so proud of her.”
Before the race, while not comparing him to Black Caviar, Moody told Moment Of Change’s owners that he was the heir apparent to the title of “the stable’s best horse.”
Black Caviar won officially by 2-1/2 lengths but was four in front when she began to throttle down under jockey Luke Nolen, who was mindful of keeping her going to the line in a fashion that left nobody to to question whether he “dropped his hands” as was the case in her last stand win in the Group I Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot last June.
When Black Caviar ran the wind had swung around to the south so was coming into her left flank at right angles, not a tail wind according to the racecurse weather station
Moody paid tribute to the owners for sharing Black Caviar with the people. The owner group had an entourage of 170 people in the Skyline Restaurant, made up of family and close friends to witness a success they wondered if they would ever savour after the mare was injured in the Diamond Jubiilee Stakes at Royal Ascoot last June – not to mention being stung by a swarm of bees while in quarantine.
Moody will discuss Black Caviar’s racing future in the next couple of days, but this afternoon he just wanted to enjoy it.
It was the first time jockey and his wife Alicia had brought their children Dane and Kailey to cheer the horse known around the stable as “Nelly” on.
Nolen said Black Caviar felt the heat, but when he gave her a squeeze and shook the reins she ran through the line.
