Breeding & Racing Magazine

8 Opponents For Black Caviar In Gr1 Orr Stakes

Last season's Australian Horse-Of-The-Year/Champion Sprinter & unbeaten 7-time Gr1-winning 5YO mare Black Caviar (Bel Esprit-Helsinge, by Desert Sun) who was named World Champion Sprinter for the 2nd successive year in the 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings released last month, will have 8 rivals when she has her 1st start beyond 1200m in Saturday's $400,000 Gr1 Sportingbet C.F.Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed, 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient & Kingston Town Classic title-holder Playing God are the Gr1 winners among those who will attempt to deny the unbeaten mare an 18th straight win in the 1400m event. Bart Cummings-trained stayers Precedence & Illo, Robert Hickmott's Midas Touch, Black Caviar's stable-mate Doubtful Jack & 1400m specialist Danzylum round out the Orr Stakes field. Black Caviar will jump from barrier 5 & while the rise in distance is a new test, trainer Peter Moody believes her racing style will ensure she handles it well, noting: "She goes out & makes her own luck in her races. She can be forward or back, speed doesn't worry her; she can be the speed if she wants or she can sit off them if she wants, so I don't harbour any fears there."