Black Caviar makes herself at home in England

11-06-2012

Adrian Dunn From: Herald Sun June 11, 2012 

BLACK Caviar never ceases to amaze Peter Moody, but the Caulfield trainer could not believe how the mare handled her marathon trip to England.

So well did Black Caviar take her 30-hour stable-to-stable trip that she dropped just nine kilos from her hulking 580kg frame.

The unbeaten mare, who is scheduled to run in the 1200m Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday week, was feeling so full of herself on Sunday that a planned hand walk was upgraded to a long trot.

"That's great news," said Moody, who leaves on Wednesday for Newmarket.

"Tony Haydon (stable foreman) and Peter Angus (veterinarian) are both thrilled with how she has travelled, and her food and water intake since she got there has been terrific.

"Tony said he couldn't believe how well she got off the plane in Heathrow and he said the last couple of hours by float to Newmarket took more out of her.

"She's been walking around the stable as if she's been there all her life."

Moody said Black Caviar had coped with the trip so well she had not needed to be given any intravenous fluids.

Haydon and Angus considered she was in as good a condition as before she left.

Moody said the mare had put her head straight in her feed bin when she arrived in her Newmarket box.

Moody said it was likely Black Caviar would have her sole hitout before the Diamond Jubilee on Monday or Tuesday next week.

All the positive news from the Black Caviar camp has resulted in British bookmakers reeling in her odds.

William Hill is offering $1.50 and most other outlets are fluctuating between $1.45 and $1.40.

TAB Sportsbet is offering $1.30 about Black Caviar, her best odds since she started $1.90 in the 2010 Patinack Farm Classic 13 starts ago.

There has been such interest in Black Caviar and so many requests for interviews with Moody that Royal Ascot has allocated three media conferences where the trainer will be available.