Black Caviar: bidding to equal Australasia record of 19 consecutive wins
PICTURE: Getty
Black Caviar makes Lightning return
Preview: Australia, Saturday 5.10am GMT (live on ATR)
Flemington: Coolmore Lightning Stakes (Group 1) 5f, turf, 2yo+
BLACK CAVIAR will have no problem in equalling the Australasia record of 19 consecutive wins when switching back into sprint mode for Saturday’s Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington after her first win at 7f a week ago.
That was the view of her jockey Luke Nolen despite admitting one of the eight to take her on, Hay List, who has finished second to her three times including the Lightning last year, had been her most dangerous rival.
“He’s the only one who has really made her stretch,” Nolen told AAP.
“In the TJ Smith in Sydney and the BTC Cup in Brisbaneand he looked pretty good winning a couple of trials earlier this year.
“I have got a healthy respect for the horse but there is only one
horse I will be worrying about and that is Black Caviar.”
The win would equal the Australasia record held by Desert Gold and Gloaming and set up the prospect of a $1m payday for winning three legs on different continents of the 10-race Global Sprint Challenge.
This is the first leg.
Nolen has no worries about the unorthodox drop to a straight-course 1,000m from last week’s 1,400m.
“It is not holding any fears for us,” said Nolen, who is prepared for a harder faster raceafter Black Caviar strolled home in the CF Orr Stakes about four seconds outside the 1,400m course record.
“I think the fact it (the Lightning) is run up the straight is only
going to play to her strengths,” he said.
“She is effective around a corner but because she does take that big, long stride she’s quite special to watch up the straight. She goes like a bomb.
“We are all expecting the Lightning tobe run a lot quicker than her last few races but she can run sub-11 second sectionals for the best part of a race.
“She gets horses out of their comfort zone through the middle stages and because she can sustain it for an extended period of time she has them all off the bit before we get to the clock tower.”
Nolen acknowledged the optimism of Hay List’s owners the Davenport family, trainer John McNair and jockey Glyn Schofield but it doesn’t faze him.
“They are bullish but you can’t go into a race with a defeatist
attitude I suppose.”
