Black Caviar will head to England with her unbeaten record in tact following a soft win in today's $500,000 Group 1 The Goodwood at Morphettville in Adelaide.
The champion mare made it 21 straight victories when she cruised home by just over a length from We're Gonna Rock at her final start before heading to England for the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on 23 June.
It wasn't the most dominant performance of her unprecedented career, but she was never out of “second gear” in a performance that left trainer Peter Moody and jockey Luke Nolen satisfied.
“Luke looked after her,” Moody said. “He was kind on her and we're happy with where we're at. It's just good to get another one behind us.
“She's done a good job, she's where we want her and as along as she pleases us the next three weeks we're on the plane to England.
“I know tomorrow there'll be the naysayers there (saying), ‘she's beat We're Gonna Rock a length-and-a-half this and that', but we're happy.”
The daughter of Bel Esprit was allowed to do as she pleased in the 1200-metre event. While she only jumped moderately from her wide barrier, the reluctance of any of her rivals to push forward left Nolen sharing the lead in what was a slow tempo.
Nolen took Black Caviar to the front rounding the home bend, but unlike previous races when he has put a gap on his rivals before easing her down, he just let her idle in front.
At the line the $1.04 favourite had 1-1/4 lengths to spare over a gallant We're Gonna Rock with Stirling Grove back in third spot.
Nolen said he didn't ask any more than required of the five-year-old, who has now won 11 Group 1 races and lifted her earnings to $5,770,550.
“Armchair easy it was,” Nolen said. “We were never out of second gear. She travelled strongly, I kept her happy, simple as that.
“Here the other day, she wasn't the same horse, but obviously today she was back to the machine she was.”
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As we all know BC is running against she own shadow in Australia and she can win any number of races down under but would never be considered the world's best sprinter by genuine racegoers. Let's forget the ratings; as long as she is not tested on the world stage she would only be Australia No. 1. They are planning to take her to England but as we all know Peter Moody has always been afraid of facing real competition by keeping BC running against already beaten horses, we would only believe when we truly see BC kicking out of the gate in the Golden Jubilee...only then my friends, only then!!! Do they have the guts to put her unbeaten record on the line in an England Group 1 race???! We can only hope!!!