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Unbeaten Black Caviar breezes to 17th victory Supermare Black Caviar returned to action with an effortless victory in Friday's Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley, bringing her career record to a flawless 17-for-17. The world's top-rated sprinter, and Australian Horse of the Year, didn't break a sweat as she treated the overmatched field like a punching bag. Unraced since her repeat win in the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington on November 5, Black Caviar had signaled her readiness in recent trackwork, and trainer Peter Moody noted that she'd never looked better. Fans bet her down to a prohibitive 1-20 favorite in her 2012 debut, which went right according to plan. Black Caviar, away in good order from her rail post, settled kindly in third early for regular rider Luke Nolen. Zedi Knight showed the way from a chasing Doubtful Jack, but Black Caviar couldn't have been traveling any more ominously in their wake. Cruising up on the outside, Black Caviar inhaled Zedi Knight and a tiring Doubtful Jack on the turn, and was already in total command straightening into the stretch. The dark bay increased her advantage to 4 1/4 lengths at the wire, under the barest hint from Nolen. Black Caviar blitzed about six furlongs on the good turf course in 1:09.44, a scant .11 off the course record set by Miss Andretti. Her final split was particularly impressive. Despite the lack of competition, and her deceptively easy manner, she sizzled her last three furlongs in :33.51. "It's just great to see her back," Moody told racingandsports.com.au. "Her attitude is good, action is terrific and hopefully it is the start of a wonderful six months. "They have run 1.09 something, so it is easy to say unextended but chance how fast can they go. It is just great to see her back in great shape. She has pleased us at home and it is wonderful to see that at the races. "She is terrific for our sport, to see people turn out and enjoy an evening like this is just tremendous. It is just great for our industry." "It wasn't the strongest opposition she has met," Nolen said, "but she relaxed nicely off an even speed, towed up before the Tabaret then I gave her a squeeze to make sure she took full benefit of the gallop because we are going to seven furlongs next time." Nolen was alluding to Black Caviar's next engagement, the Group 1 C.F. Orr at Caulfield on February 11. Moody has opted to try her at seven furlongs for the first time, in order to determine her proper trip at Royal Ascot. Because the English courses are more demanding, Moody explains that it takes an Australian seven-furlong horse to handle a straight six furlongs at Ascot or Newmarket. Should she look every inch the champion on the step up in distance, Black Caviar will likely set her sights on Royal Ascot's Group 1 Golden Jubilee and Newmarket's Group 1 July Cup, both at six furlongs. Should she show any vulnerability going a bit longer, the Group 1 King's Stand at five furlongs would emerge as her Royal Ascot target. In the meantime, Black Caviar's Australian program has already been outlined. After the Orr, she is expected to contest the Group 1 Futurity over the same course and seven-furlong distance on February 25; back to about six furlongs for the Group 1 T.J. Smith at Randwick on April 14; and up to seven for the Group 1 All Aged, also at Randwick, on April 28. But that prospectus would be overturned if connections decide to take a detour to Dubai for the March 31 World Cup program. Black Caviar is nominated to both the Group 1 Golden Shaheen on Tapeta and the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on turf. Moody reiterated that all is provisional. "We will be at Caulfield on the 11th as in the old adage, one race at a time," the trainer said. "There is a race for her every Saturday on the eastern seaboard of Australia or somewhere in the world for the next six months. "We have set out next three out but we will sit down and meet with the owners on Friday and that will tell us a bit more with everyone's gut feel, but I am just pleased to be here tonight and have everything back on track." Nolen summed what makes Black Caviar special. "Her awesome talent and giant stride, coupled with her relaxed attitude, I think is the reason she is the champion she is," her jockey said.
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