Breaking news: The nation’s champion sprinting mare Black Caviar will be retired.
The announcement has been made, with a press conference by trainer Peter Moody currently being held live.
Part-owner Neil Werrett confirmed, while shedding tears, that she will be retired. Werrett thanked Moody Racing, her jockey Luke Nolen, and the Australian public.
Peter Moody said that she’d achieved all that could be achieved, and that ’25’ sounded like a good number to end on. He said he thought she’d be retired after Royal Ascot, and that he was grateful to have been able to give her three more runs on the racetrack.
“”The owners and myself have had a long chat for past couple of days,” said Moody, while holding back tears of his own.
“Collectively we decided the mare’s in great shape, we thought long and hard about racing at the international season.
“This afternoon at lunchtime we decided 25 was a great number.
“It’s been a very proud thing for me to put racing at the forefront of the sports pages for all of the right reasons.”
Moody couldn’t single out one performance above any other – telling reporters each and every win had been special for its own reasons.
Having given it her all in Sydney, Moody indicated he was more tempted to spell her for a return in the Spring. However, he thought that bowing out in this fashion, she’d never be thought of in a diminished light – stopping before anything could go wrong.
She finishes with 25 undefeated wins, including 15 Group 1 wins in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Royal Ascot, in the UK.
She’ll be paraded at Caulfield on Saturday in Melbourne.
Werrett said it was unlikely that her first ‘romance’ in the breeding barn would be with Frankel, now that they have decided to keep her in Australia. No decision has been made on a stallion for her.
Her half-brother, ‘Lot 131’, was recently sold for $5 million to Australian syndicate BC3 Racing.
Black Caviar wins an historic race at Derby Day Randwick. (Photo: Paul Barkley/LookPro)
Luke Nolan salutes the crowd after Black Caviar wins an historic race at Derby Day Randwick. (Photo: Paul Barkley/LookPro)
Black Caviar is led around the Theatre of Horses before Race 9 at Derby Day Randwick. (Photo: Paul Barkley/LookPro)
Black Caviar and strapper Donna Fisher before the start of Race 9 at Derby Day Randwick. (Photo: Paul Barkley/LookPro)
Black Caviar beats Hay List, in one of the few times she was challenged in Sydney (Image: AAP)
Lot 131 – Black Caviar’s half-brother (Image: Twitter)
Black Caviar – breeding barn bound, but for glory? (Image: Julian Smith/AAP)
Black Caviar win Diamond Jubilee in a photo finish (Image: Channel Seven)
Black-Caviar wins Diamond Jubilee to earn greatness (AFP)
Black Caviar taking on Royal Ascot (Image: Bronwen Healy / Bronwen Healy Photography)
Black Caviar wins 2011 T J Smith – Slattery Media Group
nufcmvfc
Guest
retirment of a legend Personally I would have loved to see her go to Royal Ascot and wipe the floor with the other horses, just to put any ghosts to rest But it can be argued she's effectively done that by going back to Australia and beginning where she's left off It's a sign of the best that they are able to rise from adversity in such a way (though one could say this as much about the Jockey as the Mare). Especially after the bee attack I heard mentioned? Good idea to retire at the peak, a lot of elite athletes etc don't and it destroys their legacy. It's probably better now after some high quality wins rather than the mere 'near victory' at Ascot which would have meant retiring under a cloud
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
By 'us', I mean 'me'. And lots of others.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Thanks Justin, practically every other horse in that Ascot race was a mystery to us.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Nice mention!
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Brilliant as always Justin.
Justin Cinque
Expert
Since the Diamond Jubilee, Moonlight Cloud has had four starts and won two Group 1s including the Prix Moulin which is one of Europe's best miles. She's an outstanding racehorse but she couldn't beat an injured Black Caviar albeit she almost did and she's not a sprinter (more a sprinter-miler).
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Sad news but good news too. I was fearful that if she continued racing, and was eventually beaten, the winner of that race would be remembered almost equally. Great horse. Slightly off topic, but can Justin or Tristan, or anyone, update us on how Moonlight Cloud has performed since that Ascot race? Just wondering.
Renee Matey
Roar Rookie
...and tomorrow was the four year anniversary of her first win. Bless ...
Jack
Guest
Well done the owners and Peter Moody. Perfect timing to end an amazing journey. Nothing better than seeing a real speed horse in action. Lucky enough to have seen Vain and Manikato at the track and now Black Caviar. Will be a while before we see anything near her equal. Spectacular. And to Luke Nolan, a brilliant job of handling the pressure and expectation in keeping her unbeaten. She is simply marvelous.
Bondy
Allanthus, Lol.
JGK
Roar Guru
I thought they might have sent her to Brisbane where she would have equalled the WR for Group 1s. I guess if her half-bro to Redoute's Choice would go for $5m, what would a healthy RC-BC colt go for?
Tim Prentice
Expert
Yep, we were all privileged to see such an equine champion from race 1 to 25. What this magnificent animal has done for horse-racing in this country means she richly deserves what they call immortality. Congrats to Peter Moody who just knew when the time was right,. A record of 25-1 would have shattered the legend. What a wonderful 'ride' we all had. I am sad it's over but thrilled BC'S phenomenal career is now consigned to the newsreels. Unbeaten. She deserved that lofty title. Even mighty Phar Lap lost. But not this wonder-mare. Cannot wait for the Black Caviar movie. I'd call it: Superhorse. What about you?
nan
Guest
The best has come to the end- Thankyou to all who had her ready to go each start, You always said you would do the best by the horse and you have. To BC thanks for standing the hair up on my neck everytime you ran- I knew you would win everytime because of your super stride and hi cruising speed. I can die happy knowing i saw a legend Like the bradmans and frasers you will go down in history as the horse they could not beat Well done
Allanthus
Guest
Very nicely put Bondy. I guess with a name like that you'd know a bit about corporate fraud... :)
Bondy
In a world of bombings, the banks,mass shootings,major corporate fraud ,its beautiful that an animal can give so much joy to human beings.
johnny nevin is a legend
Guest
I suppose it make sense for connections after beating Kingston towns record last Saturday. She transcended the sport, she was magnificent.
Bondy
Full press conference will be seen on tvn's trackside today at 5.15 pm.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Like everyone else, it's very disappointing, I had conditioned myself to it ending after Ascot and was delighted that she'd come back so well. She's been fantastic for the sport, for connections, for racing followers and for the general public - not just because of the unbeaten record, but for the sheer dominance over her opposition, the manner in which she raced. As we did here the other day we might quibble a little or hypothesise over what might have been done differently but at the end of the day she goes out as an undeniable champion in every sense of the word, and it's such a shame it has to end.
Australian Rules
Guest
It may be decades until we see another like her. A sad feeling really...was secretly hoping she'd return for the Kings Stand at Ascot. Thank you girl for the memories - and to Moody and the owners for the wonderful journey.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
The best sprinter I've ever seen, Sunline still the best mare however - both champions.Would've been good to see BC run the mile to 10f ... is the just me being greedy? Dubai over the mile would've been good to see too.