While last week’s Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes was a stroll in the park for Black
Caviar, the world’s top sprinter had to dig deep to keep her unbeaten streak
alive in Saturday’s Group 1 Lightning Stakes. Her previous victories
demonstrated her extraordinary speed and class; this one also revealed the depth
of her heart.
The cutback in distance from the Orr’s seven furlongs around the bend at
Caulfield, to a frenetic five down the straight at Flemington, against her
toughest rival Hay List, popped a question to the Australian wonder. But Black
Caviar tapped into her reserves to find the answers, repelling Hay List and
edging about 1 3/4 lengths clear in a sparkling final time of :55.53 on the good
turf — just .03 off the about five-furlong course record.
Hay List, who was runner-up to Black Caviar in last year’s Lightning, had
crossed swords with the supermare twice more, and gave her a tussle before she
put him away. On Saturday, a fresh Hay List was returning from a nine-month
layoff, and tuned up with a smart barrier trial win.
As Hay List blazed out to the early lead, Black Caviar pressed him under
regular rider Luke Nolen. Buffering tried to keep up with them, but couldn’t go
the fierce pace and ultimately dropped back.
Black Caviar headed Hay List, but her old foe was traveling well himself, and
came right back at her. When Hay List gave as good as he got, Black Caviar
suddenly looked as if she might be in trouble. Nolen pushed her along, in an
unaccustomed scene for a mare whose trademark is cruising on the bridle.
The two warriors continued to match strides, until Black Caviar summoned her
champion’s mettle. She pulled out a bit extra, Hay List had no answer, and her
unbeaten status was preserved.
Buffering checked in roughly two lengths back in third. Foxwedge, Lone Rock,
Temple of Boom, Phelan Ready, Metallurgical and Secret Flyer completed the order
of finish.
The fractions underscored the great merit of Black Caviar’s performance, with
sizzling furlongs of :10.21, :9.98 and :10.40 in the heart of the race. She
smoked her final 600 meters (about three furlongs) in :31.82.
Black Caviar’s second Lightning victory was much harder than her first. Last
year, she dusted Hay List by 3 1/4 lengths. The crucial difference was that she
was just beginning her 2011 campaign in the Lightning; on Saturday, she was
making the third start of her preparation and turning back in trip on a week’s
rest.
Trainer Peter Moody immediately recognized that Black Caviar had undergone a
stiff test, and essentially eliminated the chance of another quick turnaround
for next Saturday’s Group 1 Futurity.
“I would pretty much say that she won’t be there next week,” Moody told the
Australian AP. “For her to be there next Saturday, she probably had to have it
softer today, so we will let the dust settle but she needed to have it softer
today to butter up three weeks in a row.
“It’s the first serious task I’ve set her,” Moody noted, “and I feel a bit
sorry for her and you (Nolen) because it’s the first time I’ve ever placed
either of you under pressure. But she shone through like the top horse that she
is.
“Anytime she has been up for a fight, and he (Hay List) is the only horse
that has made her fight.
“She was never going to show a turn of foot that she had first-up last year
in this race, and we always had that planned that we weren’t going to be too far
away.”
By winning her 19th straight race, Black Caviar tied the Australasian record
shared by Desert Gold and Gloaming, both of whom raced in New Zealand as well,
in the period during and just after World War I. Black Caviar also broke the old
Australian mark of 18 (at major tracks) set by Ajax in the late 1930s.
Moody had hoped to go for number 20 at home in Australia, but skipping the
Futurity puts that goal into question. Black Caviar could instead seek her 20th
win in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, which would be her first try on
synthetic.
“I’ll sit down with the owners, but if she goes to Dubai, she has probably
run her last race in Australia this prep (her current autumn campaign).
“If she doesn’t go to Dubai, we will look at what option leads us into Royal
Ascot.”
The Group 1 Diamond Jubilee on June 23 at the Royal meeting has always been
Black Caviar’s primary objective, followed by the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket
on July 14.