Black Caviar: Australian Stakes race blog, live updates

 
The Crowd Roar Pro

By , 27 Jan 2012 The Crowd is a Roar Pro

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She’s back. For 33 months, 16 race meetings including seven Group 1s and $4.3M, and around 17.33minutes, Black Caviar has embarrassed opponents that dared to enter into the same barriers as her.

She has wooed fans who nowadays come out dressed in the salmon and black spots. The mare is the highest-ever ranking Australian horse and the world’s best racemare, yet the best may still be waiting for us.

Tonight the daughter of Bel Esprit steps out onto the Moonee Valley surface to race against six others in the $200,000 Australian Stakes.

If all goes well, tonight’s event will resemble more of a trial than a race. It always amazes me why Black Caviar only faces tiny fields – sure their chances of winning are almost zero, however the prize money for second, third, fourth, fifth and so on as well as the chance of getting black type on their pedigree resume should be enough of a carrot to enter.

At 8.15pm the champion mare faces a field headed by another Peter Moody trained galloper, Doubtful Jack.

The gelding’s past three runs have all been in group or listed company including a last start third placing to Soul in the Heffernan Stakes. Doubtful Jack knows exactly how good his stablemate is – she beat him by six lengths when Jack was runner-up on 22 October.

Wearing the number two saddlecloth is the Bart Cummings five-year old, Rock Classic. This guy is here for one purpose – to get miles in his legs for the longer distance events.

Zedi Knight won first-up in this prep when she claimed the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield on Boxing Day by 1.8 lengths. Last time out however the seven-year old could only manage to run ninth in the Standish. Zedi Knight is a decent chance of running a place due to her impressive record at the Valley and distance (7-4-1-2).

Sound Journey is two from two at this track and did the Waterford Crystal Mile – in 2010. That was also his last win. No.

Hollowlea. Strong chance to run last.

Number seven, Impulsive Dream, will find even the place getters too good here.

Tonight, the racing industry will stop and watch as the great mare takes her first step in a campaign that will likely cover three countries.

The Australia Stakes is race four on tonight’s Moonee Valley card and will be run at 8.15pm over 1200m.

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