People love a champion, and rightly so. That something that sets them apart from all others is a rare gift. Of course there are all sorts of champions, but the ones that are most cherished are those that seem to come along once in a blue moon. Today at Melbourne’s Flemington racecourse, we had the chance to see a genuine champion strut her stuff. Black Caviar returned to the racetrack after a seven month layoff due to suspensory tears she incurred in the UK. As the great mare went to the starting stalls, looking to take her unbeaten run to 23, she carried a bet of $400,000 to $40,000 and another of $300,000 to $30,000. Mad money I suppose, but each to their own. Did they have a reason to worry....nope. After missing the jump by maybe a half length, she cruised to a share of the lead. Then under a double hold, Black Caviar assumed the running well before the halfway mark before being asked by Luke Nolan to go for home at the furlong. And extend she did. Shaken up, she flew for a couple hundred metres before being eased down in the shadows of the post. In the G1 race named in her honour, the Black Caviar Lightning, run over the 1000m, “Nellie” scampered over the straight trip in a new course record, stopping the clock at 55.42 seconds, in winning the race for the third time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aJeNqu9Y6s
Amazing stuff Cyc - breaks the track record hands and heels in what looked like a piece of fast work. She is redefining sprinting.
That 1000m record at Flemington is one hell of a prize Oddy, many greats have chased that trophy. The previous record was set by a flying machine called Special in 1988. So it's taken quite an effort to crack it.
****ing hell. That was effortless. Incredible. Thanks Cyc. I tried to read out your post to the wife and Amanda but couldn't manage it. So we just sat and watched the race instead. Made my day.
It's a nice day for racing in general Ron. And we're in for quite a few of them in the next few months in the UK as well.
