OK I will say it – I am dirty on Peter Moody and his owners for retiring their champion Black Caviar.
Why? Why now?
Seemingly the only reason is because she will remain unbeaten on 25 wins which includes 15 Group 1 wins.
You didn’t see Byron Nelson retire when he won 11 tournaments in a row in 1945 or ‘the great one’, Wayne Gretzky, when he blitzed the points record streak of 51.
You didn’t see Pakistani squash freak Jahangir Khan turn it up when he put 555 wins together or our very own Heather McKay who went unbeaten for 19 years.
What about our cricket team who won a record 16 Test matches consecutively, and don’t forget the 21 ODIs and the 26 World Cup matches.
When Black Caviar won her second TJ Smith and took her record past Kingston Town to 15 Group 1 wins she still had more to do. She is still one win shy of John Henry and the great jumper Kauto Star’s 16 wins.
She also had one more Group 1 win to go to equal Zenyatta and Frankel, who hold the record of 9 consecutive Group 1 wins.
It is not as if the wonder mare was injured or past her best. Peter Moody said she has retired at her prime and based on her TJ performance, she certainly looked as untouchable as ever.
No doubt the camp would have been mindful of what happened to Zenyatta when she won her first 19 races and was beaten a head in the Breeders Classic in her last run in 2010.
Here is what I struggle with.
Black Caviar cost $210,000 as a yearling and the owners, G. J. Wilkie, K. J. Wilkie, Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd, C. H. Madden, J. Madden, P. A. Hawkes, D. M. Taylor and J. Taylor wanted to a race a horse.
They own this magnificent animal that has done so much good for the industry and given so many fans, including thousands of children, so much pleasure and now when she is at the top of her game they decide to pull the pin.
Go figure!
The chances of her being beaten if she has a few more starts are remote, but surely the greater good should have won out.
The racing industry is in decline and fans prefer to stay at home or go to their club, or worse, switch to online casinos or poker.
Black Caviar was the one marketing pitch that could hit a home run and not only get the fans back to the track, but uncover new followers.
I feel sorry for Queensland racing who moved a Group 1 race to the bigger Eagle Farm to accommodate the adoring crowd with the hope of see the wonder mare, and now are left with ‘if onlys’.
But what really gets into my craw is that the English keep saying: ‘she only won in a photo finish’.
Surely the best way for Black Caviar to say goodbye would be for her to go back to Royal Ascot and put five or six lengths on the Diamond Jubilee field and really show our friends in mother England.
If only!
Richard
Guest
Well said Judith. At last some sense. I really do enjoy the banter on the roar. You get some fantastic articles, interesting view points, pick up some alternative thoughts so well worthwhile following. But you also get armchair experts who just talk rubbish. In summary, a great horse, very fortunate owners who took a $260k punt on a horse that paid off and allowed them to enjoy the ride of a lifetime, a great trainer who had the best interests of the horse at heart every time, a really interesting breeder who followed bloodlines and wanted to breed a great horse, adoring fans many of who enjoyed racing for the first time as a result. Seriously,enough of this ridiculous debate.
kev
Guest
was a joke judith....
Judith
Guest
You wouldn't have a clue.... Get off her back now, we have heard enough of your drivel about her. She will go down in history as the best sprinter to ever look through a bridle. She told them she had enough after her last run...She was distressed and that wasn't like her.... Peter Moody always said she will tell us when.... WELL SHE DID and that's that....Thank goodness he read the signs right.... Please leave it at that now and leave everyone in peace.
Judith
Guest
Peter Moody always said the mare will tell us when she has had enough and she CLEARLY did tell him.... He would not have pulled the plug otherwise. I was present in the stalls when she showed signs of distress after the race, she usually recovers quickly, this time she didn't. THAT WAS HER TELLING EVERYONE SHE HAS HAD ENOUGH. She is 7 yrs old in just a few months. What did you want , BLOOD. Take Over Target was raced until he had a sever injury by an owner who THOUGHT he wanted to go on but thank Goodness B C's connections read the signs right. .... Get off their backs she gave the owners and the racing public ENOUGH....
Judith
Guest
WRONG HORSE, He is SUPPOSED to have heard that about More Joyous, Don't think I would believe everything you hear.
kev
Guest
i heard singo heard BC was sore from andrew johns who was told by tom waterhouse....
johnny nevin is a legend
Guest
Wise Dan is the man now rated 134 by timeform, ATH rated 128 but I believe he's better than that. At the moment Wise Dan is the better horse.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
ryan She can NEVER be called the greatest. For a start she has not won over the distances that Frankel did and he would almost beat her over 1400m and would kick her brains in over a mile. She is the greatest sprinter, lets leave it at that.
david
Guest
never heard she was sore who said that and where was it said?
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Judith Everyone and everything pulls up sore after a sporting event. Moody said very clearly that she pulled up well and was at her peak fitness after she raced. She was bred to race and she clearly loved it. More chance of her being injured in the breeding barn or giving foal.
Ryan Eckford
Roar Guru
I think she would have been spelled after the TJ Smith Stakes, the question was whether they, or specifically Moody wanted another campaign from the horse. This, along with his reluctance of wanting to go back to England were the determining factors in the decision. In saying that, I would have gone one more run to equal those records listed in this article, which would have placed Black Caviar in my mind as the greatest horse of all time.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
chiv All true. I still sit on the decision to retire was weak and not in the best interests of the owners, the horse and the industry. I have no doubt that BC loves racing and being fit and getting all the love and ditto the owners. I dont see any upside by retiring.
Judith
Guest
Black Caviar was sore the next day and not happy, Peter Moody and the owners pulled the pin for good reason, WHY RISK her being completely crippled she is 7 years old this year and has done her bit for racing. I for one would NOT want to see her end up a cripple or WORSE She is 600kg and injures herself very easily FAIR GO, what does everyone want BLOOD.
chivasdude
Guest
In whose yes is it that the argument to retire BC is weak? Isn't it the just the prerogative of the owners? I assumed that their motives were to: (i) to preserve a winning record, (ii) not adversely impact future foaling fees and (ii) perhaps some consideration for the horse's welfare. Why is there anything wrong with that? Most athletes (and I include horses) go on too long, don't they?
JamesP
Guest
All Aged Stakes at Randwick would have been a dream match up
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
well said Peeeko
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Pottsy You have been watching too many episodes of Happy Days. The comparisons was just poetic license which I am entitled. No one is denying the owners have not been great but they have done no more than what any lucky owner would do if they owned BC. She is a mare in the prime of her life and going as well as ever, full stop. She should be taking on All Too Hard this week or going to Brisbane and then maybe Singapore or the UK. She has done more than enough but the greater good would have been for her to keep on racing. The argument for her to retire is weak.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Why would punters care? She paid $1.10 or less She had 25 well spaced starts over 4 years, that's not many at all. She hardly ever left Melbourne at all, only 2 races in Sydney in 4 years! The Adelaide race clubs increased their prizemoney just to get her to run. The TJ smith won't be a million dollars next year, the owners were getting preferential treatment. Fact is they never wanted the horse to lose so they retired her
peeeko
Roar Guru
Agree on Gerard Whately, he can froth on a lot. He said the other day that BC did it tough winning the TJ!
Justin Cinque
Expert
I'll back All Too Hard in. He's improving all the time. I think the track was too firm for the Euros in the Breeder's Cup. Wise Dan is a worthy contender for best turf miler - I hope he makes it to RA.