BEL'S BLACK CAVIAR CAPTURES GROUP TWO DANEHILL

Unbeaten Bel Esprit 3YO, Black Caviar, now appears to be on the verge of Group One glory following her command performance in the Danehill Stakes-G2 at Flemington today (5 September).

Melbourne’s boom filly and clearly the most exciting contender heading into the Spring Carnival, Black Caviar has a number of options including the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes-G1 (Open Handicap over 1400m) on 19 September or the Manikato Stakes-G1 (WFA over 1200m) on 25 September.

From there, Black Caviar may tackle Thousand Guineas-G1 (1600m) against her own age group and sex on 14 October or go head to head with the colts in the Caulfield Guineas-G1 (1600m) four days earlier.

Either one could be the stepping stone to a tilt at the WS Cox Plate-G1 (2040m) on 24 October where she would attempt to become the first 3YO filly since the mighty Surround (1976) to win Australasia’s weight for age championship.

Despite knuckling over badly coming out of the barriers in the Danehill, Black Caviar soon raced to the lead and was never headed in the run home.

Although the winning margin (0.8 lens) wasn’t as substantial as her previous three victories (5 lens, 6 lens [Blue Sapphire-LR] and 3.8 lens [Crockett S-LR]), the verdict was never in doubt.

And adding a chockfull of merit was the standard of opposition, which trainer Peter Moody alluded to post race by stating that stablemate and runnerup, Wanted was “going as good as any horse in the stable and is a top class colt”.

For that matter, the efforts of Delago Bolt (4th) and Tollesprit (5th) were outstanding and further black type beckons for each in the not too distant future.

Delago Bolt – Delago Brom’s Black Opal Stakes-LR winner – was further back than Walla Walla but flew home over the final stages to finish just 1.5 lens from the winner.

At his previous outing in the Up And Coming Stakes-G3 at Randwick on 22 August, Delago Bolt (from the Barathea mare Bardego) locked his jaw and ran off the track after travelling sweetly to the turn.

Based on his run in the Danehill, the Gary Portelli trained 3YO will improve as the distances increase and is nominated for the Epsom Handicap-G1 (1600m) at Randwick on 3 October, along with the Caulfield Guineas-G1 on 10 October and WS Cox Plate-G1 (2040m) on 24 October.

Tollesprit (by Bel Esprit from the Alzao mare, Tolleranza) clearly has a big future and the Danehill Stakes was his first unplaced run in five outings, having run a resounding second in the McNeil Stakes-G3 when resuming at Caulfield the previous Saturday.

But the Shane Fliedner flyer lost no fans at Flemington, running on a treat for a minor share of the stake despite finding absolutely no room early on and copping a knock over the final stages.

He too looks as if more ground may suit and could well be in line for another showdown with Delago Bolt in the Caulfield Guineas.

For a full replay of the race, click here

BLACK CAVIAR

3YO Brown filly (18 August 2006)
Bel Esprit – Helsigne by Desert Sun (GB)
Owners: G J & Mrs K J Wilkie, Werrett Bloodstock P/L Synd (Mgr: N Werrett), C & Mrs J Madden, P Hawkes & D M & Mrs J Taylor
Trainer: Peter Moody
Breeder: Rick Jamieson
Breeding: From a half sister to G1 winner and Eliza Park stallion Magnus and G2 winner Wilander, out of G2 winner Scandinavia.
Race Record: 4 wins (inc. Danehill S-G2, Crockett S-LR, Blue Sapphire S-LR) & $167,250 stakes.