• Horse Racing

Black Caviar could skip Ascot

ESPN staff
April 9, 2013
Peter Moody believes Black Caviar should sign off at Royal Ascot in 2014 © Getty Images
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Unbeaten racehorse Black Caviar is unlikely to return to Royal Ascot in 2013, with trainer Peter Moody eyeing a swansong appearance in 2014 instead.

The owners of the Australian mare, who has won 24 straight races, have been considering a return to the scene of her closest brush with defeat, the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in 2012.

But Moody believes that another trip to Britain should signal the end of Black Caviar's career, with a possible mating with fellow unbeaten flat horse Frankel under consideration.

"I've had no discussions with the owners about it at all," Moody told the Racing Post. "It's obviously in their mind, but I've never hidden my feelings, I think we deserve her here. If she went to England it would be the end of her career."

Now six years old, Moody believes Black Caviar is at the peak of her powers and could extend her unbeaten run to 30 races, starting at Saturday's TJ Smith Stakes ahead of the Melbourne sprint treble - the Schillaci Stakes, Manikato Stakes and the Patinack Farm Classic - later this year.

"You could then come back in the autumn and run in the Lightning Stakes and the William Reid, and then go to England," Moody said.

"It might sound silly, but she's now the complete package," he added. "She's as sound as she's been for three or four years - she's going as good as she ever has."

Black Caviar's half-brother has sold for an Australian record $5.2m at the Easter yearling sale in Sydney. The price for the as-yet unnamed colt, who shares Black Caviar's mother Helsinge, broke the previous record by nearly $2m.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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