Eight enough for Caviar
02/15/2012 12:25:04 AM
Black Caviar will face eight rivals in Saturday's $750,000 Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m), including her most famous adversary Hay List.
The champion mare will be searching for her 19th consecutive victory on Saturday after trainer Peter Moody decided to alter his initial plans and run Black Caviar down the 1000m straight course just seven days after she easily won her first trip over 1400m in the Group One CF Orr Stakes.
Despite the presence of Hay List, who is the horse who has come closest to repeatedly challenging her, and the fact she is dropping back in distance, she is likely to start the shortest of favourites again.
But Moody has said he may yet decide against running Black Caviar, leaving open the prospect of a race morning scratching should she not appear ready.
She has drawn barrier five, while Hay List will jump from barrier seven, with Group One winning mare Lone Rock splitting the pair.
Foxwedge, who almost upset champion three-year-old Sepoy in the spring, is the only three-year-old in the race and will jump from barrier nine.
Black Caviar will be looking to join champion American pair Peppers Pride and Zenyatta on a record 19 starts unbeaten and would then be shooting for a modern day record of 20 starts unbeaten in the Group One Futurity Stakes on Saturday week.
Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m)
1. PHELAN READY(2) (BLKS) (Brad Rawiller) 58.5kg
2. HAY LIST(7) (BLKS) (Glyn Schofield) 58.5kg
3. BUFFERING(3) (BLKS) (Michael Rodd) 58.5kg
4. TEMPLE OF BOOM(1) (BLKS) (Danny Nikolic) 58.5kg
5. SECRET FLYER(8) (Dwayne Dunn) 58.5kg
6. METALLURGICAL(4) (Craig Williams) 58.5kg
7. BLACK CAVIAR(5) (Luke Nolen) 56.5kg
8. LONE ROCK(6) (Glen Boss) 56.5kg
9. FOXWEDGE(9) (BLKS) (Nash Rawiller) 55.5kg