Caviar conundrum to be solved soon

06-09-2012

Black Caviar has returned to work with a decision on her future imminent
The racing career of legendary sprinter Black Caviar will be decided by the end of the month.

Trainer Peter Moody today confirmed that the champion mare had this week returned to light work with a view to assessing whether she still had a future as a racehorse.

She will continue in pre-training until late September before returning to Moody's Caulfield base, after which a decision on her future will be finalised.

“She's back doing some light work for the first week this week and I'm very pleased with her condition,” Moody said.

“We'll have her back here at Caulfield in about three weeks' time and basically by the end of the month I'll make a final decision on whether we're going to press on and race her or she goes to the breeding barn.”

The daughter of Bel Esprit hasn't raced since her unforgettable Diamond Jubilee Stakes win at Royal Ascot in June, when she pulled two muscles during the run but still scored a half-head win over gun French filly Moonlight Cloud.

The victory, her 12th at Group 1 level, took her record to 22 wins from as many starts and lifted earnings to $6,802,436.

Moody said both he and Black Caviar's owners wanted to give her the chance to add to that, but her winning streak wouldn't be put at risk unless he was convinced she had returned as good as ever.

“The owners have pretty much left it up to me, we all want to see race her again, I think Australia wants to see her again,” Moody said.

“We're not going to race her for the sake of racing her. We all want to protect what she's done.”

Story by Brad Bishop