Black Caviar facing an uphill test in English debut race

13-05-2012

Michael Manley From: Herald Sun May 13, 2012

PETER Moody has revealed he is treating Black Caviar's English debut next month in the 1200m Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot as a 1400m race.

Moody said yesterday Ascot was a testing track with an uphill finish.

"That's the reason I wanted to give her two 1200m races to put a nice foundation into her as she's basically going into a 1400m race by the time you equate that to going up the testing hill," he said.

Moody said he could have gone the softer option with Black Caviar and run her in the 1000m King's Stand Stakes, which is held on the first day of the royal meeting, four days before the June 23 Diamond Jubilee.

Black Caviar has had one start over 1400m, a win in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield in February.

Moody said he had nominated Black Caviar for the King's Stand as a back-up.

"If I got there and had any queries or little hiccups and thought she wasn't going to be ready for the 1200m, I'd still have that up my sleeve," he said.

Moody again stated that if all was not right with Black Caviar, he would scratch her and take her back home.

"Any hiccups and she's not right she won't be running. I don't care if there's 10 million people there, not 10,000, they won't be seeing her unless she's 110 per cent right on the day. I will not hesitate to pull her out," he said.

Moody said it would be the fourth time he had taken horses to Royal Ascot and that would benefit him with Black Caviar. He has taken Magnus twice and Hinchinbrook once.

"I won't be changing my stabling at Newmarket, which we've used the past three or four years," he said. "She'll be the first horse out for gallops each morning."

Moody said her workload would be similar to here.

"I know what tracks and facilities we use. We've also got access to (trainer) Clive Brittain's swimming pool, which is one of the only pools in England and it's across the road," he said.

Moody said the only difference would be he would not have the use of a beach if she needed it and would have to use ice baths instead.

Black Caviar arrived back at Moody's Caulfield stable yesterday afternoon after winning The Goodwood at Morphettville on Saturday.

He said the weather would dictate if she stayed in the stable or had a few days in the paddock. "I want her to walk on to the plane in as good a shape as she's ever been," he said.