By Lorenzo Di-Mauro Hayes
Under a dark Melbourne sky, hundreds pack together like sardines in federation square, their eyes are watching a screen showing not a match from a code of football or a one versus one sporting battle, instead they are watching a horse try to run six furlongs faster than any other horse. But this is important, because defeat would spell speculation on this horse’s status but also end the longest undefeated winning streak in the history of thoroughbred horse racing since the late 1870s. The horse was Black Caviar, the race was the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. It was unlikely that those at Gilgai Farm in Nagamine, Victoria, who saw the newly born foal on August 18th, that her journey would take her there, nor would have Peter Moody who bought the foal for $210,000. But her dominant win on April 18th, 2009, winning by five lengths, set the stage. She then won at her second start and her third and her fourth and soon the human figures became an important aspect of this story of equine perfection. Peter Moody found himself as the most well-known trainer in Australia, Luke Nolen who rode her in all but three of her victories, adding another iconic example of a horse-jockey partnership. Race caller Greg Miles added further enduring legacy on Black Caviar with some of the best calls of his storied three-and-a-half-decade career. Gerard Whateley became one of her most devoted fans, calling many of her victories for ABC radio and authored the book on her career.
From her 8th straight win and her first Group 1 in the Patinack Farm Classic (now Champions Sprint), Black Caviar was a name that was linked to a changing number of her winning streak, added by the fact that she had never lost. She became a true champion in the Autumn of 2011, after a series of dominating victories at Group 2 level, Black Caviar won in successive fashion the Groups 1s of Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap both at Flemington, William Reid Stakes at Mooney Valley, T J Smith Stakes at Randwick and BTC Cup (now Kingsford-Smith Cup) at Doomben. She had now won 13 races in a row and only Frankel was the only other racehorse anywhere in the world who had a claim to be the best in the world. Every time Black Caviar stepped out onto the track, she had a bigger fan base and a bigger challenge in front of her. In 2012, she stepped beyond 1200 meters for the first and only time in winning the C F Orr Stakes. A week later, she dropped in distance to 1000 meters in winning her second Lightning Stakes. She then headed to Adelaide and raced to her 20th career victory in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville and after winning again in Adelaide in the Goodwood, Black Caviar took on the world. In the Golden Jubilee Stakes (now Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes), the world was watching her with great interest. Black Caviar settled near the lead and when Nolen asked for effort, Black Caviar slowly edged clear, she looked like she would win, just not in the dominating fashion we were used to. Then, Nolan eased her up right as a pair of French horses in Moonlight Cloud and Restiadargent challenged her. Black Caviar nearly stopped to a walk, Nolan had to ask for another effort and as they hit the line, she appeared to have done it and after a short wait, it became clear the record was still perfect. Those watching at Federation Square celebrated with joy that the champion had done it. The Queen of the Australian turf then met her biggest fan the Queen of the Commonwealth Realms: Queen Elizabeth II.
Black Caviar was going to be prepped for a tilt at the July Cup but the near defeat at Ascot meant she returned to Australia with no guarantee she would race again. She would however get the fitting farewell. Win number 23 was the newly named Black Caviar Lightning, and she would win the race named in her honor. Win number 24 was the William Reid Stakes, televised on Channel 7 during the halftime break of the first game of the new AFL season. Her 25th start and win, her last, was another T J Smith Stakes win. It wasn’t known then but this was how she would bow out, while the thought of one more go in the spring was special, the decision was made that she would be retired.
It was at a regular, otherwise uneventful Caulfield meeting where the Melbourne crowd who watched her so often got a chance to say goodbye. Handed out that day was a sign reading “FAREWELL BLACK CAVIAR” SATURDAY, 20TH APRIL 2023 Trainer: Peter Moody. Jockey: Luke Nolen. Career Record: 25 Starts. 25-0-0. 15 Group 1 Wins. Prizemoney: $7,953,936. One of the people at the racecourse that day was an seven-year-old yours truly, who has made sure to keep that sign as an example of the greatness of racing and one of the key pillars of childhood memories.
Black Caviar would become a broodmare, giving birth nine times in eleven years, it was that ninth time that would tragically lead to the champion being euthanised. The foal didn’t survive either and created a rather tragically fitting conclusion to her life. The only thoroughbred who retired with more consecutive wins and specially was undefeated was Kincsem, who won 54 straight in the late 1870s, winning in what was then the Austro-Hungarian empire, where she was born and trained but also claimed wins in Germany, England and France. Kincsem was born on March 17th, 1874, and died on March 16th, 1887. Black Caviar was born on August 18th, 2006, and died on August 17th, 2024. The two horses with the longest undefeated winning streaks are both mares, both solidified their champion status with wins in England and both died one day before their actual birthday.
In the 21st century, Australian racing has been dominated by three marvelous mares, Makybe Diva, Black Caviar and Winx. The Diva won the iconic Melbourne Cup on three consecutive occasions and Winx ran over more champion distances, winning the Cox Plate four times and winning 33 races in a row not to mention a world record 25 Group 1s. But Black Caviar holds two unique facts that make her stand out from the other two, she did not lose, and she won overseas. Her death gives the racing community an opportunity to appreciate her greatness on the racetrack, all those she brought to the racetrack and her undefeated record that personified equine perfection.
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