Krav, not to get onto an argument, what she has done is sensational. She has been the best thing for racing since Gai Waterhouse.
However, I will say she has met some ordinary fields and she has been protected. That is not diminishing her standing as the best sprinter of the last 20 years- possibly ever. (In Australia).
I can’t see the horses opposing her tonight being a test. If she goes to Hong Kong or Dubai it may be different.
She is a fabulous racehorse. I doubt that tonights result will change the mindset of a lot of Europeans that Frankel is still the best going around.
I don’t follow Australian racing, but as a lifelong American racing fan - I’ve got no sympathy or interest in the claims that somehow she’s lucked into winning 22 races because every other horse in the race is a bum. If she’s nothing special, if a better horse could take her - well, let that better horse put his money where his mouth is. Apparently, all the people who own better horses must not like money, since they all apparently avoid races where Black Caviar runs.
Is Frankel a better horse? Maybe. He’s probably better than any American horse of the last few years. But there’s only one to find out. Until then, Black Caviar is the champion sprinter.
But I’m really posting here to say, someone is indulging in a little awsome wiki vandalism on Black Caviar’s page:
Everyone loves a good maiden. My favourite was Ouroene. I only ever backed her 3 times, in trifectas and collected every time. She was very consistent rating the same thing time after time.
Even allowing that tonight’s run was the worst of her career here is an article in which sectionals expert Vince Accardi explains why Black Caviar is so dominant.
In 1973 the American 3-year old stallion Secretariat set course records which still stand
in all three legs of the Horse Racing US Triple Crown. I believe the first two legs of
the USTC (the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness) were run on a slow track. Conditions
were ideal for the final leg (the Belmont) where he won by something like 30 lengths,
breaking the old record by two seconds. Somehow he lost a few races in his career.
Girlfriend or other personal problems, I guess.
I really don’t follow horse racing much, but I have a few questions.
How long is an average thoroughbred’s professional racing career?
Can a breeding mare realistically race at all?
When is a good time for a mare to start breeding, and when does she finish?
How long is the average thoroughbred lifespan, assuming no accidents or “accidents”? I’m aware that some horses have accidental deaths that aren’t really accidents.
I don’t know about the relative merits of Black Caviar vs Frankel et al, nor am I a big fan of horse racing.
However, what a beautiful creature! Don’t know if it is colouration or size or what but she is very striking-looking animal whether in motion or not.