|
|
 |
| |
 orse |
 alk |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Clash between Australian sprint sensations still on the
cards |
 |
 |
Not only Australia, but the whole
racing world, has its fingers crossed that the other outstanding antipodean
sprinter Ortensia in the Grade 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington will face the
sensational Black Caviar on February 16.
Black Caviar, who is unbeaten
in a remarkable 22 career starts, hasn’t been seen in action since just
lasting home at Royal Ascot in June in a pulsating renewal of the Group 1
Diamond Jubilee Stakes. The presence of the darling of Australian racing
created a press frenzy at the normally refined Berkshire meeting as the
daughter of Bel Esprit was sent off at the prohibitive
English horse racing odds of
1/6 with operators such as Titan Bet.
But after appearing to have
everything go to plan as she swept through into the lead a furlong from home,
Black Caviar’s regular partner Luke Nolen seemed to ease off in the last
50 yards and was very nearly caught on the line by the flying French filly
Moonlight Cloud, eventually holding on in photo to score by just a
head.
Many people expected trainer Peter Moody to retire the great mare
after that, but after giving the matter a great deal of thought he has
persuaded connections to keep her in training and her first task may well be to
lower the colours of Ortensia, who also made a big name for herself last
season.
Trained by Paul Messara, Ortensia travelled to Dubai last March
and got the better of Sole Power in the Grade 1 Al Quoz Sprint before taking
time to acclimatize to British racing last summer when beaten on her first two
starts. She came good with a vengeance though in landing the Group 2 King
George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, then came with a flying late burst under
William Buick to beat Europe’s best in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes,
defeating Spirit Quartz by a neck.
The prospect of Black Caviar and
Ortensia in the same race at this stage of their careers seems sure to put
thousands on the gate at Flemington.
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
| |
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Main Menu
