Wherever you are in the world, there are those horses which truly transcend the sport of racing. Here, in the UK, we have the mighty Frankel; American Pharoah’s Triple Crown heroics gripped the US, whilst the brilliance of Japanese sensation Equinox, during a short but spectacular career, made the rest of the world sit up and take notice.
The Australian racing scene is no stranger to an equine immortal, and (with an honourable mention to Winx) the filly to most capture the imagination of the Aussie public was the brilliant sprinter Black Caviar. Unstoppable in her homeland and traversing the globe to score at the 2012 Royal Ascot Festival, the Peter Moody-trained filly had long earned her place among the greats when retiring in 2013.
Sadly, this week brought the news that Black Caviar’s retirement has ended prematurely. In foal to fellow Australian Group 1 star, Snitzel, Black Caviar gave birth to a colt but died soon after, having failed to respond to treatment for the inflammatory hoof condition, Laminitis. In a tragic postscript to the news – which came just one day before Black Caviar’s 18th birthday – her new colt also died a few days after his mother.
Connections Devastated but Remember the Good Times
Well-loved around the world, Black Caviar was a true icon of Australian racing, with the news of her passing sparking an outpouring of grief from those most closely associated with the mare and the wider racing community.
Trainer Peter Moody, who prepared Black Caviar ahead of all 25 career starts, stated, “You don’t think it affects you, but you are being stupid not to think it doesn’t. It’s impossible not to get attached to most animals, let alone one like her. I sat in the car and cried for an hour. I rang all the staff and told them. They were all very upset.”
Tributes have flown for one of Australia's greatest mares, Black Caviar. 🐴❤️🐎
She died shortly after giving birth to "a colt foal by Snitzel, and they put her down shortly after that on humane grounds," trainer trainer Peter Moody said.
Read more: https://t.co/ckRoc8djF3 pic.twitter.com/WzIM4fykZi
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) August 17, 2024
Jockey Paul Nolan, who partnered the flying filly in 22 of her racecourse appearances, outlined the importance of the greatest horse he ever rode, saying, “You could say she was just a horse, but she was more than a horse, and that’s why we’re feeling a bit blue. She meant a great deal to us. She was an integral part of my career, but, more importantly, she was so important for racing itself. She was one of our equine heroes.”
Owned by a group comprising members of the Madden, Hawkes, Wilkie, Taylor, and Werret families, a statement posted on their behalf expressed dismay at the loss but was keen to highlight Black Caviar’s stellar racing career, reading, “The ownership group are devastated, however, will reflect on her glittering achievements not only in Australia, where she transcended racing and captured the hearts of the public but in England where she famously won the 2012 Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.”
A Sprinting Phenomenon: Black Caviar’s Achievements
Purchased for A$210,000 and sired by the Group 1 winner Bel Esprit, connections likely hoped Black Caviar would be up to winning a race or two. In the end, the apple of their eye performed way beyond their wildest dreams.
Kicking things off with a 5l stroll in a Flemington handicap contest in 2009, Black Caviar improved that winning margin to 6l when landing a Listed contest at Caulfield on only her second career start. From there, the only way was up.
Raced 25 times between 2009 and 2013, not once did Black Caviar taste defeat, with those 25 victories including the following 15 Group 1 triumphs.
- Lightning – 2011, 2012, 2013
- Newmarket Handicap – 2011
- William Reid Stakes – 2011, 2013
- T J Smith Stakes – 2011, 2013
- BTC Cup – 2011
- Patinack Farm Classic – 2010, 2011
- C.F. Orr Stakes – 2012
- Robert Sangster Stakes – 2012
- The Goodwood – 2012
- Diamond Jubilee Stakes – 2012
There can’t be too many horses who win a race named in their honour. However, that is just what Black Caviar achieved in 2013 when rocking up to slam the field in the 2013 Black Caviar Lightning.
Perhaps the finest example of this filly’s popularity came in 2012. Brought to England to tackle the best of the European sprinters in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, Black Caviar drew thousands of fans to Federation Square in Melbourne to watch the race on the big screen, despite the action starting at just before midnight Australian time. Memorably, Paul Nolan gave supporters a mighty fright when easing up close home, but Black Caviar crossed the line in front…as she always did.
