Black Caviar achieves by accepting the challenge
13-06-2012
Matt Stewart From: Herald Sun June 13, 2012
SHE'S there, she's healthy - and she's shortening by the day.
British bookmakers, who appeared generous a week ago, have virtually shut up shop on Black Caviar, with the wonder mare, who has scared connections of many rivals away, now as short as $1.33 for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Trainer Peter Moody leaves at midnight tonight to guide Black Caviar through the most important 10 days of her career.
THE quirk of Black Caviar's grand adventure is that it might achieve more than it proves.
The achievement is that the challenge was accepted. She could have trod a familiar local path but instead has taken on the perils of the great unknown.
Once it was announced she'd take on the Poms, anticipation rose. We'd become a bit bored of the no-sweat canters around Moonee Valley and Caulfield, the effortless gear changes up the Flemington straight, reminded only by Hay List of the V12 under Black Caviar's bonnet.
We knew the Poms weren't renowned for their sprinters, but we still expected them to throw the kitchen sink at Black Caviar.
We may also have expected an exotic first clash with Sepoy, and some special arrivals from Hong Kong or Japan.
The reality is there will be more of the same in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. The setting will be different, and the sense of occasion will enthral both the 4000 or so Aussie's making the pilgrimage and those staying up late back home.
But Black Caviar's ever-shrinking odds suggest same story, different location.
She is $1.25 favourite with most bookmakers, even with the forecasts of a sloppy track.
Sepoy isn't running.
Bated Breath and Moonlight Cloud, the equal $10 second favourites, are running in the King's Stand Stakes on the Tuesday, with no assurances of a back-up on the Saturday, despite fighting words a fortnight ago from the Bated Breath campnte.
Society Rock, the $12 third favourite, won the Jubilee a $26 last year and hasn't won in five starts since; fifth favourite Hoof It was beaten first-up at York; sixth favourite Krypton Factor wasn't sighted in the Krisflyer in Singapore in May.
You get the picture.
Inevitable victory for Black Caviar will be monumental for the sense of adventure and occasion, but a canter is a canter, no matter what the location.
