No Contest As Black Caviar Wins Her 18th

Saturday, 11 February 2012 06:15

She's the champion of the world, one of the best Australia has ever seen and the horse that broke the gates down.

Black Caviar Wins Her 18th RaceBlack Caviar, the best sprinting thoroughbred on the planet, turned back the clock at Caulfield on Saturday, dragging an old-fashioned bumper crowd that was allowed in free of charge just to see her run.

And at the same time she showed a glimpse of what's to come when she leaves Australia next month to take on the world.

As everyone expected her to, Black Caviar bounded to her 18th win from as many starts in the Group One CF Orr Stakes.

Only the South Australian mare Southern Speed made anything like a race of it with Black Caviar, and she had to produce the run of her life to fill second place, 3-1/4 lengths behind the great mare.

As well as taking her one race closer to the record number of wins for an unbeaten horse in Australia, it took her prizemoney total to a tick under $5 million.

"That might have been her best run yet," said senior part-owner Neil Werrett.

"It was her easiest."

Black Caviar with Luke NolenAs well as the massive crowd Black Caviar "invited" to see her Caulfield, her performance stopped a cricket match on the oval near the 1200m mark, the players jumping the fence to watch her flash past.

The only surprise to come from the race was delivered by trainer Peter Moody, who said he might run Black Caviar at Flemington next week and then come back to Caulfield the week after.

"If she pulls up well, you might see her again in seven days, and if she comes through that all right, she might be back here seven days later."

Black Caviar is then scheduled to race in Dubai next month at the world's richest race meeting, before tackling Europe's best at Royal Ascot in June.

Photo: Quentin Lang, Fiona Tomlin