Prominent statues of Phar Lap, Bart Cummings, Makybe Diva and Roy Higgins adorn various spots at the celebrated Flemington racecourse.
In The Forum at Flemington, the Victoria Racing Club on Thursday presented a compelling overview of champion mare Black Caviar’s legacy—despite her Caulfield statue—ahead of the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) this Saturday.
‘The Perfect Run’ exhibit maps out Black Caviar’s 25 undefeated races, featuring eight at Flemington where she launched her career in April 2009 as a two-year-old and wrapped it up in the T J Smith at Randwick four years later.
The collection includes career trophies and mementos, a gallery of photos and short stories detailing each of her 25 successes.
Trainer Peter Moody, jockey Luke Nolen and the ownership group attended the exhibition’s debut, set to open publicly on Saturday.
Moody reflected on the phenomenal yet scary task of managing Black Caviar’s 25 starts, which amassed roughly $8 million for the mare.
“The last time she went on to a racetrack totally sound was her second or third start in a race,” Moody said.
“As Luke touched on earlier, it was more about relief (after every win) than enjoyment, which is sad when you have something that good.
I had wonder staff and wonderful people around me and it had to be, as you could not handle it by yourself and for me personally, and Luke personally, our families were a big part of it.
We didn’t cook and that didn’t feed onto the horse.”
It meant a lot to Moody to continue winning after plans to retire her following the Diamond Jubilee success at Royal Ascot in June 2012.
Retirement news for Black Caviar was slated post-return from post-Royal Ascot overseas jaunts by the team.
“We had basically retired her after Ascot, but everyone was heading off on their European vacations, and we were going to get together when everyone got home and announce her retirement,” Moody said.
“But to get her back for those three runs afterwards, that was something very special.”
Moody described the special post-victory interaction between Black Caviar and The Queen at Royal Ascot as unforgettable.
“Everyone got invited to morning tea earlier in the week, except me, and I think they were all a bit toey about me meeting her on race day,” Moody said.
“Just to see her love of the horse and to see her come down into the enclosure, which I believe hadn’t happened before, and gave the horse a pat, was very special.
She was that buggered after the race, and we had Paddy (Bell) on one side and me on the other, and there were so many people in the yard that we were that worried someone might give her a smack on that big bum of hers.
I thought crikey, if she takes offence to it, we might take out The Queen here with Black Caviar.
I don’t know how she would have gone with 600 kilos running over the top of her. There might have been a change of Monarch and Charlie might have got the gig a few years earlier.
And we would have been really considered convicts then.”
Capturing such lively insights from Moody evokes Black Caviar’s remarkable story, and racegoers can find excellent betting markets for the race ahead of the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m).
The post Black Caviar exhibition unveiled at Flemington first appeared on Just Horse Racing.