RESULT - 2010 PATINACK FARM CLASSIC- G1

1200 m / 6f

7th LEG GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE

TRACK: Dead        

Caviar leaves Patinack rivals listless

Ben Melham is all smiles after jumping off speed queen Black Caviar The much-hyped Patinack Farm Classic match race didn’t eventuate, but there was not one skerrick of disappointment among the Flemington crowd of 77,506 following Black Caviar’s contemptuous display in the $750,000 Group 1.
Peter Moody's champion four-year-old stretched her unbeaten run to eight when she demoralised a field of highly-rated rivals, including boom Sydney sprinter Hay List.

Even Caulfield-based Moody was blown away by the ease of his stable star's four-length win, the first elite-level success of her career.

“That was a quality lot of horses and she was simply awesome wasn't she?” he said. “I've got the pleasure of being very closely involved, but I think that'd make the hair stand up on the back on anyone's neck.
The much-hyped Patinack Farm Classic match race didn’t eventuate, but there was not one skerrick of disappointment among the Flemington crowd of 77,506 following Black Caviar’s contemptuous display in the $750,000 Group 1.
Peter Moody's champion four-year-old stretched her unbeaten run to eight when she demoralised a field of highly-rated rivals, including boom Sydney sprinter Hay List.

Even Caulfield-based Moody was blown away by the ease of his stable star's four-length win, the first elite-level success of her career.

“That was a quality lot of horses and she was simply awesome wasn't she?” he said. “I've got the pleasure of being very closely involved, but I think that'd make the hair stand up on the back on anyone's neck.

“She's had a build-up since day one and to finally crack that Group 1 (is a relief). Most horses with her ability probably would have won a Group 1 at their third or fourth start, they just haven't fallen for her with the injury and so on, but to finally get it today it's just a great relief.”

The daughter of Bel Esprit laid to rest any doubt about who was the best sprinter in Australia with a breathtaking display that saw her break 1:08 up the famed straight 1200-metre strip.

She jumped well and while most runners held their position while the field was sorting itself out, after 250m the two horses the race had been built around were leading the way.

But the prospect of them fighting out the race was gone within another two furlongs when Hay List's jockey Glyn Schofield was niggling at the former Western Australian, who was then gone by the 300m.

At that point it was a matter of how far Black Caviar. The surprisingly easy $1.90 favourite had opened up a gap on her rivals that she only extended over the final 200m.

She careered away to win from Star Witness ($7), who backed up his Coolmore Stud Stakes win last Saturday with a game second placing, while crack mare Ortensia ($26) finished the race off well to hold out last year's winner All Silent ($31) for third, a further 2-1/4 lengths back.

Hay List, the $3.40 second elect, finished second last, more than 11 lengths from Black Caviar.

The tale of Black Caviar's performance is in the time. She broke 11 seconds in all but the first and final 200-metre splits. After a 13.66sec first 200m, her next four sections were 10.58, 10.36, 10.59 and 10.95 before cruising home the last 200m in 11.82secs.

Blessed jockey Ben Melham, who replaced the suspended Luke Nolen, said his maiden Group 1 win was never in doubt.

“I knew she was good, but today, horses just don't do what she did,” Melham said.

“She quickened and then when I asked her to quicken again at the furlong she lengthened again. The frightening part was I still wasn't near the bottom of her I don't think.”

Moody said Black Caviar would now head for a spell before being set for the Lightning Stakes at Flemington on February 12.

GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE POINTS BOARD

(AFTER SEVENTH LEG)