February 24 2012
After Australia's rad racehorse Black Caviar's win last Friday in her 19th consecutive race, which came only one week after her previous win, she was possibly going to run again tomorrow, on only 6 days' rest again, in the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes.
However, it appears owners and trainer Peter Moody have decided her next major goal will be at Royal Ascot in England in June. She will possibly go for her 20th win in a row in Adelaide or Brisbane before she flies to England. Those of us who know racing (and probably most of us who don't) are probably breathing a wee sigh of relief she is not running her third Group I race in 3 weeks tomorrow, although the trainer was confident she would have won again.
Moody said, "There's nothing wrong with her. To the contrary, she's at the top of her game. But it's all geared around having her at her peak when she flies across to England for the 6-furlong Diamond Jubilee Stakes. That's the Royal Ascot race the owners have had their sights on for some time and everything is being tailored like a Savile Row suit to have her cherry-ripe for that race on June 23."
There in England it is possible that Black Caviar, the world's current number 2 racehorse will meet the world's current number 1 racehorse in Frankel, though Moody's not committing to anything other than the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. (Frankel was 9 for 9 at the end of last year as a 3-year-old; his 6 length win in the 1-mile 2000 Guineas is called 'one of the greatest displays on a British racecourse". He has yet to start this year.)
(All this, and really, I'm not that interested in racing anymore after Zenyatta - really!)
Top photo is by the HeraldSun.com.au
Here's a video from last October comparing the two
**CORRECTION: Black Caviar was to run in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield racetrack on Saturday. Not the Blue Diamond Stakes.
Thanks to Lorrie for pointing that out!
Now, am I confused or do they run in the opposite direction in England?
ReplyDeleteWait...just researched. Apparently in both England and Australia, they might race either clockwise or counterclockwise. Just wondering if that might give either horse an advantage.
Looks like that Royal Ascot race is going to be quite a match up.
In Australia they run clockwise in Sydney and Brisbane and anti clockwise in Melbourne and Adelaide. Black Caviar has run both ways so the English way of going wont worry her.
ReplyDeleteIn the UK they use pacesetters, ie one horse, usually second string from the same stable goes out hard to make the rest chase. Then fading and making way for the more fancied stablemate. I have not seen that in Australia nor the US. (I believe it's illegal in Aus) Frankel uses one, Black Caviar doesn't. Will this make a difference does anyone think?
Without wanting to sound too pedantic. Just wanted to clear something up. Black Caviar was to run in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield racetrack on Saturday. Not the Blue Diamond Stakes. The Blue Diamond Stakes is a 6 furlong race for 2 year olds and is a prelude to the richest 2 year old race in the world. The Golden Slipper at Rosehill Racetrack in Sydney in April.
Lorrie, thanks for that correction, I added it as a footnote. And Jean, Lorrie explains your questions quite well!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lorrie. I did know about some of the undulating courses in Britain, but was confused by the direction.
ReplyDeleteIn the US, some stables will use pacesetters, but it's not all the time. When you see one of the big races and a trainer/stable has two horses entered, often one of them is there to pace set, often to set up the strategy for the race.
Good move!
ReplyDelete