Legendary sprinter bigger, stronger and sounder than ever according to pre-trainer
One of the key members of the Black Caviar team has offered a ringing endorsement of the champion mare’s physical state.
Peter Clarke, who operates the water walking facility at which the unbeaten megastar performs her pre-training, she the six-year-old this week departed Murchison in as good a condition as she ever has.
“She’s a big, strong girl now; probably bigger and stronger than she’s ever been and I think nearly probably the soundest she’s ever been,” Clarke said.
“She does have issues, but they are all well and truly under control at the moment and as long as they stay that way we’ll have the joy of seeing her win more races.”
Black Caviar returned to Moody’s Caulfield base on Monday to ramp up a regime aimed getting the 12-time Group 1 winner back to the races for one final campaign.
The $6.8 million-earner hasn’t started since taking her record to 22 wins from as many starts in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at England’s Royal Ascot in June.
Moody is yet to commit to a path for the daughter of Bel Esprit, but a possible starting point is the $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on 16 February – a race that has been renamed in her honour.
Story by Brad Bishop and Danny Matthews