England Gets A Taste Of Black Caviar

With due deference to the mighty Frankel who opens the show at Royal Ascot in the Queen Anne Stakes on June 19, there is no doubt that the intercontinental challenge of Australia’s brilliant sprinter Black Caviar will be a massive highlight of the five-day racing extravaganza as Peter Moody’s mare makes her first appearance outside of her native land when bidding to land the coveted Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes on the last day of the fixture.

Such has been the total dominance of the six-year-old over the last few seasons in Australia that she has proved virtually unbackable, (regularly being sent off at odds of 1/20 or shorter), and having well and truly put any pretenders to her crown in their place it was clear that trainer Peter Moody would have to look further afield if his star is indeed to be heralded as one of the all-time great sprinters.

With Australian speedsters having a fine record at Royal Ascot over the last 10 years with the likes of Choisir, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti and Starspangledbanner all having shown their British rival a clean pair of heels, expectation is incredibly high that Black Caviar, (considered to be, by some way, the best sprinter to have travelled to these shores in recent memory), will extend her stunning unbeaten sequence to 22 races. Her presence in the contest is sure to be the focus of the international racing world’s attention and all seems to be on track for her to put high-class opposition to the sword, including top local sprinters Bated Breath, Hoof It, and last year’s winner Society Rock, as well as the French star Moonlight Cloud.

Photos of the daughter of Bel Esprit having made the long journey from Australia in a Cathy Freeman-like body stocking have already started tongues wagging with excitement, and all systems seem to be go for Moody’s pride and joy to illuminate the scene at the world’s greatest race meeting on June 23.