Black Caviar unbeatable, says Moody
Trainer Peter Moody has laid it squarely on the line — Black Caviar is unbeatable at Randwick today.
‘‘ Facts and figures suggest there’s not another horse on the planet that can beat her under these conditions over this distance,’’ Moody said.
And as her rivals attempt to put some pre- race pressure on the world champion sprinter, Moody has declared her to be as good as she’s ever been, laughing off concerns that hardnosed Sydney jockeys would gang up on her and scoffing at suggestions she’s had it easy in Melbourne.
Sydney racing has been rife with theories this week concerning the treatment local riders will dish out to the mare as she attempts to extend her unbeaten 24- win sequence in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick.
Moody has challenged the jockeys to give it their best shot.
‘‘ Plenty of them have ridden against her before, and they’re probably still using vaseline to cover up the windburn,’’ he said.
One Sydney trainer has questioned the tactics of Black Caviar’s opposition in her two most recent wins in Melbourne, suggesting she has been handed her wins on a platter.
‘‘ We don’t race in lanes in Sydney,’’ said Joe Pride who will saddle two runners against her.
Moody delivered a backhanded reproach to the thinly veiled insinuation.
‘‘ We’re always very respectful of our opposition, always have been,’’ he said.
Moody also dismissed suggestions Black Caviar’s inside gate could lead to her being locked away on the fence.
‘‘ We have the best gate and the best horse,’’ he said.
Black Caviar arrived at Moody’s Rosehill stables at 4am on Thursday after a smooth overnight float trip from Melbourne.
‘‘ She came off the truck just as well as she went on it,’’ he said.
Black Caviar turned in a spectacular gallop at her Caulfield home base on Monday that had Moody declaring her to be in the form she displayed as a 3- year- old.
Moody and the mare’s owners say they haven’t made a decision on any aspect of her future.
The possibilities for a 26th win remain with races in Brisbane, Adelaide or England. However, Moody also warned that there is always the chance today could be her last race.
One Sydneysider far from perturbed at the presence of the great mare is Corey Brown, who, if he has his way, could see the Randwick 1200m track record being broken.
Brown plans to turn up the heat on the champion by making full use of Rain Affair’s high cruising speed.
Brown isn’t predicting Rain Affair will become the first horse to lower Black Caviar’s colours but he i sn’t backing away from the challenge of trying.
‘‘ They will be running good time to beat him,’’ Brown said. ‘‘ He just seems to be able to hold that high cruising speed and quicken off it.
‘‘ She’s not going to be getting an easy run like she did last time.’’