Caviar on track for Super Saturday

| Thu 3 November, 2011

Story by Rob Edwards - The West

Thoroughbred phenomenon Black Caviar is a step closer to racing at Ascot in Saturday fortnight's $500,000 Burswood Winterbottom Stakes.

Black Caviar is the standout entry after nominations for the Winterbottom (1200m), Carlton Draught Railway Stakes (1600m), GR Engineering Kingston Town Classic (1800m) and Sky Racing WA Guineas (1600m), to be run at Perth Racing's inaugural Super Saturday meeting, closed yesterday.

Not since the Tommy Smith-trained champion Kingston Town came to WA in 1982 will there have been such a visitor in a Perth race. Black Caviar's visit to Ascot is likely to draw a sell-out crowd of 30,000.

Managing-owner Neil Werrett confirmed yesterday that connections were keen to race Black Caviar in Perth. He expected an entourage of at least 60 owners, family and friends.

The final hurdle is for Black Caviar to stretch her unbeaten streak to 16 wins in Saturday's $1 million Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington.

Trainer Peter Moody will then monitor the $3.7 million earner's recovery over the following 48 hours before deciding whether she is fit to board a flight next Tuesday.

Werrett has fond memories of Perth, having commuted between Sydney and WA on business.

"Perth was a great time," Werrett said. "I was working there about 10 or 12 years ago for AMP looking at buying the old Bond building and was involved in buying some shopping centres. I really enjoyed the lifestyle there, and the owners in Black Caviar like their wines, so we are looking forward to a trip down to Margaret River.

"She is such an amazing horse and we are so lucky to have anything to do with her. We want to take her overseas but we do want to race her in Australia."

Moody has three other Perth entries, with Master Harry entered in the Winterbottom and Cosmic Causeway and Luen Yat Forever in the Railway and Kingston Town.

Master Harry clashes with Winterbottom entry Here De Angels in today's Swisse Vitamins Stakes (1000m) at Flemington, while Cosmic Causeway tests for Perth in the Grazia Ultimate Handicap (1600m).

Leun Yat Forever runs against Railway and Kingston Town entries Pinwheel, Testa My Patience, Toorak Toff, Pinnacles, Albert The Fat, Largo Lad and Willy Jimmy in Saturday's Emirates Stakes (1600m) at the same track.