Star sprinter Black Caviar racks up 24th win on trot

Published on 23/03/2013 03:55

AUSTRALIAN mare Black Caviar impressively won the 24th consecutive race of her career in taking the William Reid Stakes by four lengths at Moonee Valley yesterday. It was the six-year-old star sprinter’s 14th Group 1 win.

Black Caviar last raced on 16 February after an eight-month break. She narrowly won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on 23 June, but faced possible retirement after tearing a quadriceps muscle in the race. She underwent laser therapy and exercise in a water walker – the equine version of water aerobics – to return for another season.

There have been persistent reports that trainer Peter Moody will soon retire Black Caviar, although she is likely to race in April at Sydney’s Randwick. Yesterday Moody said “never say never” when asked if Black Caviar might race another season. “She’s going super. It’s scary how well she’s going,” he said. “You just run out of words. As a headline for our sport, she’s second to none.”

Jockey Luke Nolen, who has ridden Black Caviar for all but two wins of her career, said the horse never felt threatened. “She felt amazing to me, travelled well in the run, flowed into the race on her own accord and she took care of the rest,” Nolen said. “It’s been a privilege to be part of such a great racing story.”

Black Caviar started at prohibitive odds again, with two gamblers placing bets of $200,000 and $100,000 at odds of 1-20.