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Black Caviar
Statue of Black Caviar, Nagambie
Sire	Bel Esprit (AUS)
Grandsire	Royal Academy (USA)
Dam	Helsinge (AUS)
Damsire	Desert Sun (GB)
Sex	Mare (female)
Foaled	(2006-08-18)18 August 2006 Nagambie, Victoria, Australia
Died	17 August 2024(2024-08-17) (aged 17) Scone, New South Wales, Australia
Country	Australia
Colour	Dark bay
Breeder	R. Jamieson, Vic
Owner	G.J. Wilkie, K.J. Wilkie, Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd, C.H. Madden, J. Madden, P.A. Hawkes, D.M. Taylor, J. Taylor
Racing colours	Salmon, Black Spots, Salmon And Black Spots Cap
Trainer	Peter Moody
Record	25: 25–0–0
Earnings	$7,953,936
Major wins
GBR Diamond Jubilee Stakes (2012) VRC Newmarket Handicap (2011) VRC Lightning Stakes (2011, 2012, 2013) VRC Patinack Farm Classic (2010, 2011) ATC T J Smith Stakes (2011, 2013) MVRC William Reid Stakes (2011, 2013) BTC Cup (2011) MRC C F Orr Stakes (2012) MVRC Australia Stakes (2010, 2012) MRC Schillaci Stakes (2010, 2011) MVRC Schweppes Stakes (2010, 2011) VRC Danehill Stakes (2009)
Awards
1st in World Thoroughbred Rankings (2013) WTRR World Champion Sprinter (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) Australian Racehorse of the Year (2011, 2012, 2013) Australian Champion Sprinter (2011, 2012, 2013) European Champion Sprinter (2012)
Honours
Black Caviar Lightning (2013) Australian Racing Hall of Fame (2013) Timeform Rating: 136
Last updated on 15 July 2022

Black Caviar (18 August 2006 – 17 August 2024) was an Australian champion Thoroughbred racehorse who was undefeated in 25 races, including 15 Group Ones, an Australian record. She was the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 WTRR World Champion Sprinter. Black Caviar was trained by Melbourne-based trainer Peter Moody. Other than in her first two runs and in one race in 2010, she was ridden by Luke Nolen. The mare was retired on 17 April 2013. According to an ABC Catalyst episode from 2015, she was never whipped.

Background

Black Caviar was born on 18 August 2006 at 5:20 am at Gilgai Farm in Nagambie, Victoria. She grew up on the Goulburn River property and then went to Swettenham Stud in December 2007 for a 10-week yearling preparation where she was then sold on behalf of Rick Jamieson to Peter Moody for $210,000 at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. She was owned by G. J. Wilkie, K. J. Wilkie, Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd, C. H. Madden, J. Madden, P. A. Hawkes, D. M. Taylor and J. Taylor. She was sired by Bel Esprit, winner of the Doomben 10,000, which also sired Bel Mer, a mare that won the Robert Sangster Stakes in 2009. Black Caviar was the first foal of her unraced dam Helsinge, a daughter of the British racehorse Desert Sun, that never won a major race but was placed in the Craven Stakes and the Sandown Mile. Desert Sun also sired the champion New Zealand racemare, Sunline. Helsinge is also the dam of All Too Hard, winner of the 2013 All Aged Stakes, the 2013 Futurity Stakes, the 2013 C F Orr Stakes, the 2012 Caulfield Guineas and runner-up in the 2012 Cox Plate. As a descendant of the British broodmare Pinprick, Black Caviar is a product of the same branch of Thoroughbred family 1-p, which also produced the Classic winners Ambiguity and Sodium.

Black Caviar weighed about 570 kg (1,260 lb) and stood 16.2 hands (66 inches, 168 cm) high. In looks, size, and conformation, Black Caviar resembled her grandsire, Royal Academy, and great-grandsire, Nijinsky, who won the English Triple Crown.

Racing career

2008–2009: Two-year-old season

Black Caviar started twice as a two-year-old, winning her debut by 5 lengths before claiming the listed Blue Sapphire Stakes by 6 lengths.

2009–2010: Three-year-old season

Returning as a three-year-old, she won first-up in a listed race by 4 lengths. Stepping up to Group 2 level in the Danehill Stakes at Flemington, she caused concern when she stumbled at the start; however, she recovered to keep her winning run going, beating the colt Wanted, by ¾ of a length. Moody, commenting on the mishap in the early stages said "I certainly had my heart in my mouth". A chest muscle injury sustained in the start kept her out of racing until the following January. That resuming run saw her take on the older horses in the Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley, where she won by 2½ lengths. Shortly after the race, the filly sustained an injury to a suspensory ligament in her right foreleg which kept her out for the rest of the season.

2010–2011: Four-year-old season

Returning as a four-year-old in October 2010, Black Caviar won two more Group 2 races: the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield and the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley by 5½ lengths. She then was set for her first Group 1 race in the Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington, where she took on a field that included the highly rated Western Australian sprinter Hay List, along with multiple Group 1 winners Star Witness, Melito and All Silent. Black Caviar produced what was described as "an astonishing demolition job" and won by 4 lengths. After the race, the veteran trainer Lee Freedman, who had conditioned outstanding sprinters including Miss Andretti described Black Caviar as "the best I have seen".

She resumed in February 2011 in the Lightning Stakes, where she defeated Hay List by 3½ lengths, being eased down well short of the winning post. Her next start saw her carry topweight of 58 kg in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Despite the weight, she again won in similar ease to her previous Group 1 wins and set a race record in the process. This performance earned her a rating of 130 from the IFHA, which made her the number one ranked horse in the world in the period of October 2010 to March 2011. The rating placed her only three pounds behind Dayjur, the highest rated sprinter of the previous 30 years. A fourth successive Group 1 win came in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley before she ventured to Randwick in Sydney for the T J Smith Stakes. In this race, which attracted a crowd of 30,000, Hay List established a clear break on the field at the top of the straight and a huge upset briefly appeared possible. Black Caviar, however, accelerated past Hay List in the closing stages and won in very impressive style by 3 lengths. The Herald Sun described her performance as "brilliant, dominant and unforgettable".

She then travelled to Brisbane for the BTC Cup at Doomben, where she attracted a crowd of over 20,000, for another clash with Hay List. She won by 2 lengths over Hay List, which once again ran a clear second placing and confirmed his standing as Black Caviar's main rival. Buffering was a further 5 lengths away in third place. Black Caviar was expected to end her season in the Doomben 10,000; however, her connections instead decided to spell her until the Australian spring.

In the annual Victorian Thoroughbred Racing Awards, members of the racing media voted Black Caviar as Horse of the Year by 150 votes to 134 over So You Think.

2011–2012: Five-year-old season

Black Caviar started her five-year-old season by winning her second Schillaci Stakes by 4¼ lengths. With this victory, she equalled Phar Lap's record of 14 straight wins. She won her 15th race in the Moir Stakes by a 6-length margin. She maintained her unbeaten record with win number 16 in the Patinack Farm Classic by 2.8 lengths from Buffering and Mid Summer Music. After the Patinack Farm Classic, Black Caviar was spelled for the remainder of the spring racing season.

On 27 January 2012, she returned to racing by winning the 1200-metre Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley by 4.3 lengths in a time of 1.09.44 to remain undefeated over 17 starts. She then stepped up to 1400 metres for the first (and only) time on 11 February in the C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield. The distance and wet track conditions led to media speculation that her unbeaten run was under threat, but she again won comfortably by 3.3 lengths in front of a crowd of 20,000.

Black Caviar backed up a week later in the Coolmore Lightning Stakes on 18 February over 1000 metres, where she was once again pitted against Hay List. She was challenged up until the 200m mark, then extended away to win by nearly 2 lengths. The win put her equal with American horse Peppers Pride with 19 wins from 19 starts and behind only Kincsem, which won all 54 of her races. She also equalled the long-standing Australasian record of successive wins jointly held by Desert Gold and Gloaming.

On 28 April 2012, she won the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes by 4½ lengths at Morphettville and in the process set a new Australasian record of 20 straight wins from 20 starts. The win also took her past the then-unbeaten run of the American mare Zenyatta. Moody commented on her record-breaking run by saying that "Luke was pretty kind to her, he gave her one little smack on the bum and she did the rest." Black Caviar returned to Morphettville two weeks later, winning the Goodwood Handicap by 1 length without being ridden out.

Royal Ascot

In June, she was sent overseas for the first time for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. On the 30-hour flight from Australia to the United Kingdom, she wore a specially designed "compression suit" which helped blood circulation. Racing over a straight six furlongs on rain-softened turf, Black Caviar won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes by a head from the French-trained filly Moonlight Cloud, with Restiadargent a neck away in third. Nolen sent the mare past the Frankie Dettori-ridden Soul inside the last quarter-mile but after establishing a clear lead, he began to ease Black Caviar. Moonlight Cloud moved up on the stands side to draw almost level before Nolen began driving Black Caviar again in the final strides. Nolen said that his over-confidence had been a factor in the closeness of the finish: "It was an error that every apprentice is taught not to do, and I got away with it today." It was discovered during after-race X-rays that Black Caviar had sustained an eight-centimetre muscle tear somewhere in the race. Nolen felt the change in the horse and said he 'thought she'd done enough to get home. I didn't want to annoy her any more.' Moody explained the mare had not coped with the 11,000-mile journey as well as he had hoped or expected. He also described her as appearing "tired and worn out" after the race. An examination by veterinarian Peter Angus and chiropractor Michael Bryant later revealed that Black Caviar sustained a grade-four tear of the quadriceps and a grade-two tear of the sacroiliac during the race. It was announced that Black Caviar would return to Australia to recover and bypass the originally intended second stage of her international challenge in the July Cup. On 26 June, Moody explained that Black Caviar was expected to recover from her injuries and that, after an extended break, she would be prepared for a third Patinack Farm Classic. On 31 July connections decided Black Caviar would not race during the spring carnival.

In November 2012, Black Caviar was named European Champion Sprinter at the Cartier Racing Awards, becoming the first horse trained outside Europe to be so honoured.

Horses foaled in Australia have their official "birthdays" on 1 August, whereas in the Northern Hemisphere, horses have their ages advanced by one year on 1 January. This anomaly led to Black Caviar being officially described as a six-year-old when she ran in England in June 2012, although she was still a five-year-old by Southern Hemisphere reckoning.

2012–2013: Six-year-old season

In February 2013, Black Caviar stretched her unbeaten run to 23 by winning the Lightning Stakes, breaking the course record which had stood for 25 years. It was the third time she had won the event. On 21 February 2013, Black Caviar was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. This was only the second time an active competitor has been so honoured.

In March, Black Caviar made it 24 wins from 24 starts by winning the William Reid Stakes by 4 lengths. It was her 14th Group 1 win, equalling the record of Kingston Town.

On 13 April 2013, Black Caviar won the 2013 TJ Smith Stakes. It was the mare's 25th consecutive win and 15th group 1 win, breaking the Australian record for the most group 1 wins by a horse. The record was previously held by Kingston Town with 14. The Racing Victoria website says Wenona Girl won 15 races now classified as Group 1. On 17 April 2013 she was once again ranked on top of the international thoroughbred rankings with a timeform rating of 136.

Breeding career

On 17 April 2013, it was announced that Black Caviar was officially retired from racing. Trainer Peter Moody said, "The connections of the horse and I decided 25 was a great number and she did us proud on Saturday." Shortly after, a life-sized bronze statue, by sculptor Mitch Mitchell, of the champion mare was unveiled in the township of Nagambie.

In the early morning hours of 13 September 2014, Black Caviar gave birth to her first foal, a bay filly by Exceed and Excel. On 23 September 2015, Black Caviar gave birth to her second foal, a colt by Sebring. On 18 September 2016, Black Caviar gave birth to her third foal, a filly by Snitzel. On 22 September 2017, Black Caviar gave birth to her fourth foal, a filly by More Than Ready.

Her first filly by Exceed And Excel has been named Oscietra and is currently in training with the Hayes/Dabernig stables. Oscietra broke her maiden status in her second start on 11 August 2017, leading from start to finish over 1,000 m at Geelong.

Assessment

On 31 March 2011, Black Caviar was rated one of the top Thoroughbred racehorses in the world (with a 136 rating) for the first quarter of 2011 by Timeform. On 17 April 2013, she was once again ranked on top of the international rankings with a rating of 136. On 3 May 2013, Black Caviar was officially listed as the world's best horse for the period 1 November 2012 to 28 April 2013, by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), who compile the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings. Overall Black Caviar is rated as the equal 76th-best flat racing horse in Timeform's history and the equal highest-rated filly or mare, 11 lb lower than Timeform's highest-rated horse Frankel (147). Timeform has been rating flat racing thoroughbreds in Britain since its founding in 1948, Thoroughbreds beyond Britain only "more recently" and horses who have raced exclusively in America only since approximately 2000. Timeform rates only seven sprinters above Black Caviar.

Race record

Sources:

Pedigree

Source:

• Black Caviar is inbred 3 × 4 to the stallion Vain, meaning that Vain appears once in the third generation and once in the fourth generation of her pedigree.

Death

On 17 August 2024, Black Caviar's owners announced that she had died shortly after giving birth, a day before her 18th birthday. She was euthanised to prevent suffering after being diagnosed with laminitis. Her foal did not survive.

See also

• List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses
• List of racehorses

References

Notes

1. ^ ASB: Black Caviar Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 28 February 2011
2. "Black Caviar (AUS)". Black Caviar Horse Rating. Racing Information Services Australia. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
3. "Black Caviar retired after 25-unbeaten race career". The Australian. 17 April 2013.
4. "Black Caviar proves her critics wrong with another whirlwind success in TJ Smith". The Sunday Telegraph. 13 April 2013. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
5. "Black Caviar's career". Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
6. "Motorsport Video -Motorsport Highlights, Replays, News, Clips". Fox Sports. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
7. "Horse Whip". ABC Science. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
8. Thoroughbred News Archived 13 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 10 March 2011
9. "Bel Mer". Racing Post. 2 June 2011. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
10. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
11. "Desert Sun". Racing Post. 2 June 2011. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
12. "Desert Sun Stud Record". Racing Post. 15 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
13. ^ "Hilarity – Family 1-p". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
14. "Black Caviar clings on to unbeaten run despite jockey error". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
15. "Black Caviar's career | the Roar". Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
16. Eddy, Andrew (29 August 2009). "Early slip puts Black Caviar connections on edge". The Age. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 17 April 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
17. Full name (will appear on site) * (8 September 2009). "Injury ends Black Caviar's dream run". Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
18. "Glamour filly Black Caviar injured at trackwork". The Courier-Mail. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
19. "Caviar creams them in the Schillaci".
20. "Moir Stakes 2024". Black Caviar, who won the AJ Moir Stakes in 2010 by 5 ½ lengths
21. "Brilliant Mare Black Caviar Steals Show". Herald Sun. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
22. "2011 World Rankings". IFHA. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
23. "Black Caviar rated the world's best racehorse". The Racehorse. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
24. "Black Caviar wins TJ Smith Stakes". Herald Sun. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
25. Mayberry, Vaughan (15 May 2011). "Doomben's the winner as Black Caviar gives racegoers a feat to remember". Courier Mail. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
26. Roots, Chris (20 May 2011). "Black Caviar to miss 10,000 as connections spell her with view to future". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
27. "Black Caviar lands Horse of the Year award". Racing Post. 17 August 2011. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
28. Franklin, Daniel (8 October 2011). "Black Caviar returns in winning style". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
29. "Black Caviar's streak under a cloud". The Australian. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
30. "Black Caviar romps to Orr-some win 18 – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". ABC News. Abc.net.au. 11 February 2012. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
31. "Lightning Stakes". Racing Victoria. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
32. "Black Caviar takes centre stage – ABC Adelaide – Australian Broadcasting Corporation". Abc.net.au. 28 April 2012. Archived from the original on 22 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
33. GMT (7 June 2012). "Black Caviar wears compression suit for flight before Royal Ascot". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
34. "Black Caviar rules supreme at Royal Ascot". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 24 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
35. "Diamond Jubilee Stakes". Racing Post. 2 June 2011. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
36. Keogh, Frank. "Royal Ascot: Black Caviar claims 22nd win in Jubilee Stakes". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
37. "Black Caviar scrapes home at Royal Ascot". Sky News. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
38. Roberts, Genevieve (30 April 2012). "Black Caviar heads home in triumph". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 24 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
39. Cormick, Brendan (25 June 2012). "Pain behind Black Caviar's victory". The Australian. Archived from the original on 24 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
40. Zerafa, Brent (27 June 2012). "Caviar back for the spring". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
41. "Black Caviar out of spring carnival". ABC News. 31 July 2012. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
42. Horse Racing (13 November 2012). "Cartier Awards 2012: Frankel sweeps board and takes top honour for second year". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
43. "Why is every horses birthday on the 1st of August?".
44. "Black Caviar Does it Easy in win No.23". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
45. "Caviar's Hall of Fame honour". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
46. "Black Caviar extends winning run to 24". ABC News. ABC. 22 March 2013. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
47. Lynch, Michael (13 April 2013). "Black Caviar notches win number 25". The Age. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
48. Wenona Girl
49. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
50. "Black Caviar has been retired". news.com.au. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
51. "Black Caviar in foal to Exceed And Excel". The Australian. 24 October 2013. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
52. Foal and statue for Black Caviar Archived 25 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine – Herald Sun
53. Pengilly, Adam (13 September 2014). "Champion mare Black Caviar and filly foal well after birth in Hunter Valley". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
54. "Black Caviar delivers her second foal, a colt by Golden Slipper winner Sebring". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Australian Associated Press. 24 September 2015. Archived from the original on 28 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
55. "Osciestra, Black Caviar's daughter, wins impressively at Geelong". theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
56. Habel, Tim (31 March 2011). "Experts confirm Black Caviar as world's best". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
57. "Timeform Global Rankings for 2011". Timeform. Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
58. "Black Caviar on Top of the World". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
59. "Horse Racing Features | Tips and Betting Advice". Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
60. Timeform
61. See Top-rated Thoroughbreds on Flat Courses. The seven sprinters rated above Black Caviar are Abernant 142, Windy City 142, Pappa Fourway 139, Dayjur 137, Moorestyle 137, Princely Gift 137 and Right Boy 137.
62. "Black Caviar".
63. "Black Caviar".
64. "Black Caviar (AUS) br. M, 2006 {1-p} DP = 5-5-4-2-0 (16) DI = 3.00 CD = 0.81 - 25 Starts, 25 Wins, 0 Places, 0 Shows Career Earnings: A$7,953,936".
65. "Champion racehorse Black Caviar dies a day before her 18th birthday". ABC News. 17 August 2024. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
66. "Black Caviar's passing after giving birth shocks owner, trainer". racenet. 17 August 2024. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
67. "Owners of late Black Caviar reveal champion racehorse's final foal has died". ABC News Australia. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.

Bibliography

• Whateley, Gerard (2012). Black Caviar: The Horse of a Lifetime. Sydney: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780733331367.

External links

• Black Caviar's Racing Victoria profile
• Black Caviar on Twitter

• 2006 racehorse births
• 2024 racehorse deaths
• Racehorses trained in Australia
• Racehorses bred in Australia
• Undefeated racehorses
• Cartier Award winners
• Australian Racing Hall of Fame horses
• Thoroughbred family 1-p
• Animal deaths by euthanasia