Black Caviar to be Given Time Off: Spring Carnival Next Target

Australian sprint sensation Black Caviar (AUS) notched her 22^nd consecutive victory on Saturday at Royal Ascot in Berkshire, England, to remain undefeated in her brilliant career.

SUNDAY UPDATE: According to a report in Thoroughbred Daily News (TDN) Sunday morning, Black Caviar emerged from her dramatic Diamond Jubilee victory on Saturday with some soft tissue damage. Trainer Peter Moody indicated the brilliant sprinter will not be retired as hinted at on Saturday following the win, but instead pointed for the Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington in November, a race she has won the past two years.

“I have had my vets and chiropractors take some precautionary x-rays of Black Caviar this morning,” Moody said in the TDN article. “They have come back fine, but she has some soft tissue damage. I think it is called the quadricep muscle where the main problem is and she is quite sore behind. She’ll now spend four weeks in quarantine and then when we get her home we will give her three months off and get her ready for the Spring Carnival in Melbourne in November.”

On Saturday, Black Caviar escaped with the win in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes despite regular rider Luke Nolen possibly misjudging the finish line. It appeared in deep stretch that Nolen eased up his mount a few strides short of the wire before resuming his encouragement in the last jump to secure the victory over a fast-finishing Moonlight Cloud. Trainer Peter Moody, however, shared a different viewpoint in a TVG interview following the race.

“I’m extremely proud of her,” Moody said. “I think Nolen realized he had a horse out on her feet under him. With what I’ve seen today, I don’t think you’ll see her travel again.”

The win was the first for Black Caviar outside of Australia. Such is the unprecedented interest in Black Caviar’s first overseas trip at home that the Diamond Jubilee Stakes was shown live on a big screen in Federation Square in Melbourne, even with the race going off after midnight Australian time.

The Diamond Jubilee Stakes, first run in 1868, was formerly known as The Cork and Orrery Stakes. It is Royal Ascot’s most prestigious sprint race.

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