Black Caviar Coasts To Win No 15

Black Caviar notched her 15th straight career success at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Monday, 24 October 2011

Black Caviar notched her 15th straight career success at Moonee Valley on Saturday

Black Caviar played her Tatts Cox Plate Day part to perfection, streeting her rivals in the Schweppes Stakes to register a 15th straight win and give the bumper Moonee Valley crowd the support act they came to see.

The unbeaten Peter Moody-trained five-year-old etched her name alongside Australian racing immortals Carbine and Bernborough when she cruised to one of the easiest wins against three hapless rivals in the $300,000 Group 2 at Moonee Valley.

In doing so, she equalled the career-best winning streak of 19th century legend Carbine and Bernborough, the hero of the 1940s, who were both among the five inaugural horses inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

But just like after the Schillaci Stakes, when she matched Phar Lap's 14-race winning run, Moody was merely relieved to see her keep alive the winning streak that has captivated Australian racing.

“It's a wonderful story,” he said. “It's a dream come true and it's just great to see the joy she brings people.

“It wasn't much competition today for her but she is just great for the sport and I'm forever so grateful just to be a part of it.

“It was an easy win, it looked that way on paper, but you're always that little bit toey that things can go wrong.

“Luke took no risks and it was probably the best she has begun for while, so she is putting that little habit behind her of being a neck behind them and she stretched out lovely.”

The race panned out similar to most of Black Caviar's other 14 wins. While she jumped marginally better than usual, jockey Luke Nolen was happy to settle in second spot behind stablemate Doubtful Jack but putting the acid to the leader at the 500m.

She had found the front before straightening and quickly powered to an unassailable lead before being eased down over the final 50m.

At the line the daughter of Black Caviar had six lengths to spare over Doubtful Jack ($31), who was 1.3 lengths clear of Here De Angels ($61). Former Australian Horse of the Year Scenic Blast was a half-neck back in fourth and last position.

In addition to seeing Black Caviar join The Judge and With Me as the only dual winners of the Schweppes Stakes, the victory – her 11th at 1200m – lifted Black Caviar's earnings to $3,775,050

Regular jockey Luke Nolen has helped accumulate most of that and he was just thrilled to see the ride continue in the Schweppes Stakes.

“It's a little bit overwhelming,” he said. “It's Cox Plate Day and she could nearly be the star of the show. It's a very humbling experience to be part of it.

“I know the ride is not going to last forever but I'm very much enjoying it.”

Nolen will next get the chance to ride Black Caviar under race conditions in the $1 million Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) on Saturday, 5 November.

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