• Horse Racing

Scintillating Black Caviar breaks course record on return

ESPN staff
February 16, 2013
Black Caviar was racing for the first time since winning at Royal Ascot in June © Getty Images
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The brilliant Black Caviar made a winning return after seven months on the sidelines with a facile victory in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington.

Peter Moody's charge had not been seen since picking up an injury at Royal Ascot. There was talk of retirement, but she was nursed back to fitness and proved her well-being with win No. 23 in a race named in her honour.

Black Caviar jumped alertly and was in front after a furlong. She was easy to back despite their being hordes to see her, but she looked in superb condition and powered clear without being asked any serious question by jockey Luke Nolen.

She pointed her toe and stretched right to the line and the performance was clocked at 55.42 seconds - which broke a track record that dated back to 1988.

Moody suggested before the race this could be her final outing if she failed to sparkle, but immediately after the romp he suggested she would likely be given the opportunity to add to her tally.

"I am proud to have her back," Moody said. "I am just so proud of her and my team. We were on a hiding to nothing by bringing her back.

"The job was done and we thought it was over, but to come back and do that and run a record, I'm lost for words.

"I think it was the first time I've been nervous for a long time - I suppose it was the seven-month break - but I'm just so proud of her."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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