It’s not often that a sport like horse racing is responsible for a truly great clash of the titans but that would be the case if Australia’s undefeated queen Black Caviar met the undefeated English colt Frankel in a mile race during June’s Royal Ascot Carnival.
Black Caviar has won all of her 18 starts and so big is her imposing reputation that she is beginning to scare away every worthy challenger there is in Australia.
A horse like Sepoy, for example, would give Black Caviar a race. At least we’d be led to think he would.
But Sepoy, a winner of ten races from 11 tries and almost $4M in stake earnings, will never take on Black Caviar. There is too much lose for the Peter Snowden- trained galloper.
Despite his perceived brilliance, Sepoy would be a clear underdog in a race against Peter Moody’s mare and if he suffered defeat, would lose consider stud value for his owner Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.
So instead Sepoy, along with other highly-touted sprinters, like the undefeated Perth galloper Barakey, are being prepared for an upcoming autumn preparation with the specific aim of avoiding Black Caviar.
But it doesn’t end there because even the second-stringers don’t want to take on the champ.
If you ever thought some of Black Caviar’s wins were a bit soft, you may be onto something.
It’s probably because she met a bunch of horses not worthy of participation in the good group races Black Caviar contests.
It’s got to the point, highlighted by her trouncing of the sub-standard Australia Stakes field at Moonee Valley last month, where Black Caviar is too big for Australian racing.
And it is mismatches like the Australia Stakes farce – the sort of one-sided affair you’d expect to witness in a fight between a former rugby-league player and some bloke from the pub – that are tarnishing the reputation of Black Caviar.
Because despite being in possession of an incredible resume that includes, along with an air of invincibility, the equal third greatest undefeated-winning streak in the 300-year history of global horse racing, Black Caviar isn’t earning the respect you’d expect.
In fact, racing fans right around the country – which was even evident in The Roar’s live blog of the C.F. Orr Stakes – are arguing horses like Northerly, Makybe Diva and Sunline should be remembered as superior to Peter Moody’s mare because Caviar hasn’t beaten the same quality of opposition and hasn’t carried the weights, the aforementioned greats have.
But don’t be fooled, Black Caviar is the real deal. And she’s providing the distraction Australia racing needs right now.
There are some big issues the sport needs to address.
Our great racing in Australia is meant to be over a middle-distance trip and further. Yet, our breeding industry hasn’t been able to produce a decent middle-distance/staying horse for 15 years now. (Sadly, So You Think, New Zealand-bred, and Makybe Diva, British bred, don’t count).
In the meantime, the riches of the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups are presented on a platter for imported and European-trained gallopers to claim, thereby propelling overseas breeding and racing industries at the expense of our own.
But luckily there is a horse called Black Caviar because she has the on-track ability to take our mind off the issues plaguing racing and her presence firmly ensures their place in the background, for the moment at least.
It is therefore important, that when she begins to get people talking about and attending racing, just as she is now, everything is done to ensure those fans of Black Caviar become fans of the sport Black Caviar dominates.
And the big question for racing administrators is not how to fix our breeding industry; it is how they manage to keep Black Caviar fans in the sport for good.
Because, it seems that once the floggings end, once the unbelievable five-length soft victories stop; the people who sat down and watched the great mare will go back and do what they did before she came along.
If you think seeing Black Caviar smash a field of pretenders is exciting, then imagine what it’s going to be like when she has to a take on an equally brilliant horse that is good enough to force Luke Nolen to ask Cav for the supreme effort.
I can tell you right now, it would be a hell of a lot more exciting than seeing her scythe to victory against a bunch of listed-grade horses.
Luckily, the stars have aligned to present us with the horse to challenge Black Caviar.
His name is Frankel. He’s English and to add a bit of spice, he’s not a sprinter.
No, Frankel is a 1600-metre specialist that tends to get the job done by running along in the lead so fast those chasing can’t pick up their legs in the straight – the lung burn too much to withstand.
A match-up with Black Caviar in the Queen Anne Stakes on the opening night (Australian time) of Royal Ascot, on the third Tuesday in June, is a must.
We already know both horses will be competing at the meeting. And the Queen Anne is the perfect place for the match-up to occur.
For starters, both horses are eligible to compete in the race and secondly, it is at the perfect distance; the 1609 metres of the metric mile.
Run down the undulating Ascot straight, it is sure to be a test for Black Caviar, whose pet distance (we think – she hasn’t yet been beaten and the trip is being increased all the time) would probably sit somewhere between 1200 and 1400 metres.
But in order to entice the Frankel connections, the Caviar camp might have to make the concessions with regard to home turf and distance.
If this race went ahead, I would argue, it would be one of the biggest sporting events in the world this year.
I have no idea when the last time two boom undefeated horses like Black Caviar and Frankel met but you only have to look at the stir Cav is already creating on a global scale to get an idea of how big the race would be.
In case you’re wondering, the biggest sporting event in Australia on the weekend was not of one of the One-Dayers, wasn’t the A-League, or any of NRL trial match.
Nup, the biggest sporting event in Australia on the weekend just passed was Black Caviar’s Orr Stakes win.
It was broadcast into America by two television stations – the US racing network TVG and CNN.
It was also transmitted live into the UK via At The Races – the British dedicated racing channel. And while it hasn’t been confirmed for me, I’d be prepared to wager that it went live into both Asia and France as well.
Horse racing has the power to make a mark in Australia, Europe, Asia and America. Black Caviar is already beginning to do that.
And the thought of a possible match-up between Frankel and Black Caviar is already beginning to excite.
On Sky Channel’s Racing Retro program, Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes said that if the race eventuated he would leave his stable to be a spectator at Royal Ascot.
Truth be told, despite the economic pressure it would create, I would seriously consider going over myself. We are talking about the potential race of the century.
If Black Caviar’s connections want their mare to be remembered alongside greats like Phar Lap and Tulloch then she must take the scalp of Frankel.
Simply winning at Royal Ascot, when so many other Australian gallopers have done so in the past decade, will not suffice.
The owners of Frankel may take a tad more convincing. They are in possession of a colt worth something in the vicinity of eight or nine figures and a loss could deliver a catastrophic blow to bank accounts but surely the opportunity to achieve greatness is worth more than money.
I mean a TV rights deal for the race could be worth more Frankel himself!
If racing wants to be a big-time player in the global sporting landscape, a Black Caviar vs Frankel match-up must occur.
johnny nevin is a legend
Guest
Peter Moody has stated that it would be a tragedy to go 3/4 of the way across the world for less money to be beaten by b-grade sprinters. Looking at the horses in betting for the Diamond Jubilee he's probably right. They are mostly inconsistent horses although Kyrpton Factor is a smart performer on the all weather in Dubai and I see Sepoy in the betting also. The last real good sprinter that wasn't an Austrlian import was probably Mozart over 10 years ago. In fairness to Frankels connection most of the top class mile races are in the U.K, it would of been nice to see him in the Breeders Cup but they opted for the QE11 instead. The speed he had shown in the Guineas over 1800m last year meant they were never going to send him to the Derby or Arc at 2400m. Even though he hasn't raced outside the U.K his form is international. Last year he smashed Canford Cliffs who had previously beaten multiple Breeders Cup winner Goldikova.
Captain Sensible
Guest
Fifty Proof where has Frankel travelled again ? He's travelled no further than 100 miles from his box !! Black Caviar has travelled up & down the eastern seaboard of Aust, equivalent to racing right across Europe in terms of distance travelled. She's now travelling 10,000 miles to race at Royal Ascot. She travels and races, unlike Frankel, who's last race was half a lifetime ago. No Derby start, no Dubai World Cup or Dubai Duty Free & there will be no Arc either. They must be having trouble unwrapping all that cotton wool they have him wrapped in !!! The Eurobiased ratings have her rated the worlds best sprinter due to the fact she has beaten many of the worlds best right here in Aust. Remember Star Witness ? He missed the start in last years Kings Stand & flashed home for 2nd beaten a head. Can't get within 10 lengths of BC. Worlds 2nd highest rated sprinter Hay List is 0/5 against BC. Ortensia smashed your sprinters (Sole Power etc)when she came from last to win a Grp1 in Dubai. Can't get within 7 lengths of BC. Scenic Blast, a Kings Stand winner, was recently thrashed by BC to the tune of 10 lengths. How do those form lines look ? Not long now till she embarrasses your horses. Your bookies are scared of her - they have her 4/6 four weeks out from the Diamond Jubilee. Those short odds will look like good value at the furlong pole when she's 5-6 in front of more than likely another Aussie horse
Justin Cinque
Expert
Hey fifty proof, who has Frankel beaten outside of England to earn his number one title? As for Black Caviar beating nothing she has beaten the world number two sprinter Hay List five (5) times. Hay List reached the number two ranking after that fifth defeat. That's a fair indication of where BC stands. You said above Aussies need to start breeding middle distance horses. Why? Our breeding industry has landed us Black Caviar and Atlantic Jewel (and you should look her up!) Frankel deserves respect from Australian racing fans just as Black Caviar deserves respect from British racing fans.
Telly
Guest
I'd certainly like to see Black Caviar v Frankel. If it is to happen perhaps the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in August might be the location. I know the sponsors and Goodwood racecourse have recently increased the Sussex Stakes prize money from GBP 700, 000 to GBP 1m to try and lure the unbeaten pair to race there.
Fifty Proof
Guest
They Churp kinda like all of the Connections around Canford Cliffs.....Frankel retired the colt in the Sussex, and if any other connections want to step up well where were you last year(Sussex, or QEII)??.....now he will run at 2000m and will eventually hammer So you Think, probably in the Eclipse stakes. I have never heard of a horse so hyped up the way you Aussie's hype up Black Caviar. She beats nothing only domestically, and yet she is the top rated sprinter in the world?. Don't usually horse's who race in at least 2 or more countries, at GR1 level and win considered world Champion?.
Fifty Proof
Guest
1m 2f , or 1m 4f
Fifty Proof
Guest
Lonhro was a 1600 to 2000m horse.Black Caviar is a pure Sprinter. Apples and oranges. I for one do not want to see Frankel run under 2000m again. His connections aims are to win 1f 2, and maybe even 1f 4 also. BC will come over to Royal Ascot and beat a mediocre field. I give Immortal Verse a Shot vs Black Caviar at 1400m. The Confliction is that European Horses, and primarily English, French and Irish Bred horses are top of the game in regards to middle distance racing. A French Bred won the Last Melbourne Cup. Australia needs to start breeding some great stayers. As far as Money vs Prestige.....I for one see this sport as one that an Owner would want to win historic races for the Trophy, and for their horses to be in record books, and with out a doubt for the horses to be remembered. That is key in all of this. Take horse like Cigar who Banked 10 million in purses, but the biggest race he won was the BCC in 1995. Go and search Sea The Stars who won 4 million pounds but 3/4 of that was from his Arc Win. He won 2 classics(Derby /Guineas), The Irish Champions Stakes, The Eclipse Stakes, and barely won just under 2million. Purse doesn't mean anything if your holding the Trophy for the Derby, or 2000 Guineas.
johnny nevin is a legend
Guest
"some soft wins against indifferent opposition in slow times'. In last years Sussex Stakes Frankel smashed 5 time Group 1 winner Canford Cliffs by 5 lengths, bearing in mind that a month previously at Royal Ascot Canford Cliffs beat dual Breeders Cup winner Goldikova, this is awesome stuff. What gives Frankel more credibilty as being up there with the greatest horses is that the best European races and American races are intertwined. So when Frankel wins a Group 1 in the UK his form can be traced back that he has beaten the best of UK, Irish, French and American. Australian horses best form can usually only show them to be the best of Australia and NZ.
VIllan
Guest
If Black Caviar moves up to a mile she will be absolutely hammered by Frankel. Over seven furlongs she would beaten comfortably. Over six...well that might be interesting but Frankel would still win and it wouldn't be that close. Some of you don't realise how great Frankel is. I hope he doesn't have to retire Black Caviar to make you understand!
Shaune
Guest
To quote Bart Cummings: "They say she is the best in world and she might be, but I just question the standard of sprinters running at this point in time." He's right. Apart from Sepoy, Hay List, and I have my eye on that West Australian gelding Barakey, Australia's sprinters are nothing to be proud of. Star Witness, a dual Group One winner here, never looked close to them when racing at Ascot, for all the excuses about soft ground and hilly tracks. Black Caviar is a champion. I'm not denying that. But Peter Moody has actually been really resistant to racing her overseas and repeats the same line every time she wins about 'racing inferior horses for inferior prize money'. I myself don't really see much of a reason for her to go over there. It will make very little difference in the long run. She's already about as profitable as a broodmare can get, she won't be breaking any new ground as far as unbeaten streaks and winning overseas races go, and, as a sprinter, Europe won't care about her so long as Frankel stays unbeaten. Timeform probably won't even raise her rating unless she runs in a handicap, which Moody won't do. A Frankel--Black Caviar clash would be amazing but I doubt it will happen as both sides have too much to lose. For BC, it's the record, and for Frankel, it's his stud value. He'd probably even duck So You Think if they met over 2000m. I think Frankel will beat BC quite easily over the mile because he'll have too many advantages, but any shorter than that and it'll be a contest. Anyway, good luck for both of them. I'll stick to my own favorites.
Sunline
Guest
One other thing worth noting while we are on the subject of records. If Black Caviar wins in the Lightning stakes, it will equal Gloaming and Desert Gold on 19 succesive wins in Australasia. I was amazed to find out that Gloaming from 67 starts between the ages of 3 and 9, had 57 wins and 9 seconds over distances 800m - 2400m. UNPLACED ONCE. Now that is TRULY UNBELIEVABLE.
Sunline
Guest
jcinque, It is great to finally read some important facts by someone who is gifted with some racing knowledge who unlike many others gives a non bias view on Black Caviar. I agree on all points in everything you have mentioned. You are right to say that Black Caviar has not reached legendary status. Regardless of what people think, Moody has hand picked her races to a tee with one thing in mind- THE RECORD. The racing industry needs BC to break the 20 succesive win record for many reasons. They need all the good publicity that she is undoubtedly creating, hopefully breeding a new generation of racegoers that the industry needs to survive. The whole BC saga is bigger than all of us. She will break the record, they will make certain of that; but i am of the firm belief that she has done it with ease due to the fact that she is meeting stablemates, average horses, or good staying horses at unsuitable distances. She would have to do some amazing things in the next year to be even put in the same conversation as Kingston Town, Phar Lap, Sunline, Tulloch , Makybe Diva, and so on. I have seen most of them race over the years and they were awe inspiring They were all champions that beat big fields of champions, week in week out over all distances, and overcame many obstacles in doing so. By the way, i saw Sepoy gallop yesterday at Seymour. UNBELIEVABLE. Now that is a match up i would like to have seen if racing was still about racing and not headlines and stud fees. I think some people forget that Sepoy has amassed almost the same prizemoney in 9 wins compared to the CAV's 18 wins. Champions are remembered for what they have done on many levels; race records, who they beat and when they beat them, time away from their stable etc... Well done on your comments anyhow.
Justin Cinque
Expert
That's Black Caviar for you. But don't underestimate the popularity of horse racing. It's probably the only sport that has a story about it in the paper every day of the year - especially the News Ltd ones. I know that The Daily Telegraph, for example, will almost always have a racing story (or a page with racing stories) about ten pages from the back page on a Monday - Thursday, then a liftout with heaps of stories on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday...and that's just mainstream media.
Justin Cinque
Expert
A 31.9 last 3 would've been a bit too freakish. I still remember being at Rosehill in 2003 when Lonhro won the Ryder over 1500 sprinting home in a scintillating last 600 of 32.47. That 31.9 would've been 3L quicker and Cav was eased up!!
Justin Cinque
Expert
It's a great question. Only a couple of days ago I was saying to a mate how funny it is that the female sex in sports like thoroughbred horse racing and greyhound racing can match it with the blokes when a female human sprinter wouldn't be able to make it out of the first round of the men's 100 at the Olympic games.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Actually Glenn , the time was 33.4 secs and the overall time was a slow 1:25.1
Bondy
Guest
It's great to see a thoroughbred recieve 48 post's on a sports website such as this .
peeeko
Roar Guru
Another point- should mares now get a 2 kg allowance at wfa? I reckon hay list would get very close to BC if they were at level weights
peeeko
Roar Guru
True, we have the worlds best sprinters- one of the reasons s that the rest of the world care little for sprint races. I don't think the English really care that we keep winning their sprint races
Matt
Guest
As an Englishman it would be a travesty if Black Caviar didn't make it to Royal Ascot, Along with Frankel she is the leading star in the world of racing. I would love to find a suitable race for both of them to race in. In England and espcially at Ascot and Newmarket a normal 6 furlongs for Black Caviar in Australia would be like 7 furlongs in England thats usually the rule of thumb and so on as the distances go up, Both Ascot and Newmarket are stiff courses and very hard to win on. Why alter what Black Caviar is? Shes an out and out sprinter IMO and weather she went for the King Stand Stakes/Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot she'd be hard to beat I feel. I think anything over espcially on an undulating track like Ascot and she may be well and truly out of her comfort zone. Frankel is a world class miler who stays further and the way he won the 2000 Guineas shows that, To attack a classic field like that and be somewhat 15 lengths clear with horses off the bridle after 3 lengths is something unlikely to be seen on the Rowley Mile again... When we say this horse is a freak, We mean it! If the two horses were to meet, I think it would have to be 7 furlongs. But theres no Championship race at Ascot or Newmarket over that distance. Its either the Queen Anne or the Golden Jubilee stakes and Frankel as never raced over 6 furlongs so its highly unlikely he will step down in trip espcially when connections are aiming to step him up. Black Caviar is looking to step up to a mile so if they were to meet at Ascot then Black Caviar would have to race over 8 furlongs in the Queen Anne. And if that was the case I'd be siding with Frankel, 7 furlongs then that would be intresting!