Caviar takes guard
Australian superstar Black Caviar will face 14 rivals in Saturday's Diamond Jubilee Stakes, a race in which the betting suggests she'll be hard to beat.
Last Updated: 21/06/12 3:06pm
Australian superstar Black Caviar will face 14 rivals when she attempts to extend her remarkable unbeaten run in Saturday's Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Peter Moody's mare has enjoyed sensational success in her homeland, winning each of her 21 starts and is the second-highest-rated horse in the world behind Tuesday's mesmerising Queen Anne Stakes winner, Frankel.
The six-year-old, who has been drawn in stall 15 of 15, will be long odds-on to extend her unbeaten record in this weekend's feature event over six furlongs.
Second in the betting is another mare, Freddie Head's French raider Moonlight Cloud.
She made a winning return to action in a Longchamp Group Three earlier this month, but has proven form at the highest level.
The same comment applies to the James Fanshawe-trained Society Rock, winner of this Group One prize 12 months ago and a perfectly respectable third in the Duke of York Stakes on his seasonal reappearance.
Krypton Factor must be considered a major contender for Bahrain trainer Fawzi Nass following a successful campaign in Dubai earlier this year.
The fourth foreign challenger is Restiadargent.
Hughie Morrison runs Haydock winner Pastoral Player, while others hoping to pick up prize-money include Hitchens, The Cheka and Genki.
King's Stand Stakes runner-up Bated Breath has not been declared, as anticipated.
Couldn't Be Happier
Moody is unconcerned by the draw after monitoring the action in Berkshire earlier in the week.
"I've been watching the straight races closely this week and they seem to be winning from everywhere," he told www.heraldsun.com.au.
"I don't think it really matters where she draws. She's got the tactical speed to put herself in the right spot."
Black Caviar completed her preparations with a spin on the Al Bahathri gallop in Newmarket on Thursday morning and Moody is confident she will be able to handle easy ground should rain continue to fall at Ascot
He said: "She's trialled on very heavy ground and got through it OK so I'm not really worried.
"She's the fittest I've had her in the past 24 months. Her work has been very pleasing since arriving here. I couldn't be happier."