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Black Caviar was retired by her owners, and trainer Peter Moody, on Wednesday, 17th April 2013.
She finished unbeaten and in peak form, having won her 15th Group 1 race, the TJ Smith Stakes in Sydney.
So why was Black Caviar retired?
Her last win: After winning her 25th race, the 2013 TJ Smith over 1200m, Black Caviar pulled up well after another tough race. Her trainer, Peter Moody, said she gave 110%, and although she pulled up with some “aches and pains”, as described by Moody, she was at the peak of her powers.
Having conquered Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, as well as Royal Ascot, her owners and trainers had a difficult decision.
>> Read: Black Caviar’s five greatest wins
Would she go to Brisbane, as she did in 2010, to race in the Group 1 BTC Cup? Would she go to Adelaide to race in the Goodward, as she’d done previously in 2012 when on her way to Royal Ascot?
Would she go straight to the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot? Or, would she be spelled, and return in the spring?
Peter Moody indicated that that his preference was for a spell, and a return in the spring.
However, after considering her performances, and the number ’25’, what more could she do? What more could she do on the track? Would a decision to continue her on do anything to benefit the horse?
Collectively, in a discussion in the morning of the 17th of April, the connections with the horse decided that by bowing out in this fashion, she’d never be thought of in a diminished light.
They’d stop running her before anything could go wrong. They’d give her every chance to retire a champion in the truest sense of the word – unbeaten, virtually unchallenged, and nothing any of the knockers could say against her. She went out on top.
What next for Black Caviar?
As a mare, Black Caviar will head to the breeding barn, to mate with a stallion. As a six-year-old horse, provided she doesn’t have any fertility problems, she may be able to breed up to 15 foals. A normal young mare has around a 60% chance of falling pregnant in a season.
Her expected progeny (or offspring) will be hugely anticipated. Horse Racing is as much about breeding in the paddock as it is on the racetrack, and a suitable stallion will soon be found. Her owners have said her progeny will be raced.
Will she have a romance with Frankel?
It’s unlikely that Black Caviar will be mated with the other great champion of the current era, Frankel. A foal with Frankel would capture the world’s attention, but in a press conference, part-owner Neil Werrett said that was unlikely, as she won’t travel to the Northern Hemisphere.
However, with Frankel schedule to visit the Southern Hemisphere as a shuttle stallion, it may still be a possibility.
Can anyone be the ‘next’ big thing in racing?
Black Caviar has a line of talented half-brothers and half-sisters. Her half-brother All Too Hard is currently considered one of the finest colts in Australia, while she has a half-sister named Belle Couture who is, thus far, unraced.
Her half-brother, an as-yet unnamed colt who was sold as ‘Lot 131’, and is by Redoute’s Choice out of Helsinge, sold for $5 million.
Black Caviar’s Racing Career in Images:
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)