Black Caviar Day

Saturday is Black Caviar day with record crowds expected and thousands of Aussies coming to watch the equine superstar. Aussie...Oy...Oy.....Oy. Move over Kylie Minogue there is a more popular girl from down under. Ever since I have been involved in racing in the UK never have I seen such a frenzy about a visiting horse. The famous racecourse is fully booked and even though there are other Australian attractions today the nation will come to a standstill to watch the Wonder from Down Under come and give the poms a whipping at the game they invented. Melbourne is supplying large TV screens to accommodate the crowds expected and Aussie pubs all over the Uk are gearing up for the onslaught. Black Caviar is hoping to make it 22 out of 22 and win her first race on Foreign soil. One headline suggested it was the day of reckoning for Australia's First Lady. Here are some stats courtesy of the British Racing Post.

Age 5

starts and wins 21

Prize money in Pounds 3,630,401

Group 1 victories 11

Aggregate winning lengths in G1s. 30.25 Times starting odds on 19 Jockeys to have ridden her 3 Shortest winning price 1-33 Biggest winning distance 6 lengths. Heaviest  weight in Kilos 580

That is an amazing fact file and the world wants to witness her move to immortality. I have no doubt that she will be cheered home wildly by every nation and not just the Aussies.

She has drawn 15 out of 15 and there is a possibility that she will encounter going that she has never raced on before but the opposition have never put up performances to suggest they can bring about the unthinkable and beat her. It is now 10 thirty in the morning and the sun is out with a light breeze drying out the Berkshire track. There are a few ominous clouds gathering to witness the race.

When the filly arrived at her base, Abington Place, two weeks ago the media and press were told that no one would have access as the rights had been sold. A large van was used to cover up her unloading. The anti paparazzi tactics were successful and no one but close connections were allowed in. On Tuesday morning the press were finally allowed to see her and they were impressed by the pieces of work she had put in. By common consent she is the finest female sprinter to have ever graced our racetracks.

Legendary trainer Bart Cummings described her as having the neck of a duchess and the arse of a cook....not since the hero of the great depression, Pharlap, has a horse so captivated people.

All in All, it is all about Black Caviar and let's hope when the champagne kicks in later....we will be toasting another success.