As expected the the great unbeaten Australian sprinter Black Caviar will not be among the entries for the QIPCO Sussex Stakes when the Group One mile race closes at noon tomorrow.
This is despite QIPCO increasing the prize money of Goodwood’s top race from £300,000 to an amazing £1 million if both Black Caviar and Frankel, the world’s two highest-rated horses and unbeaten in 31 outings between them, met in the big race on the second day of Glorious Goodwood, Wednesday, August 1.
Black Caviar, trained by Peter Moody in Australia, is due to come to Britain in early June and run at Royal Ascot in the Diamond Jubilee over 6f.
Moody Racing’s Jeff O’Connor said today: “Moody Racing does not intend running Black Caviar at a mile in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes, Frankel or no Frankel, as we are looking at getting her back to Melbourne for racing later in the year if she comes through Ascot as well as she can.
“Therefore, we are not planning to nominate her for the QIPCO Sussex Stakes at tomorrow’s nomination stage as we feel it would not be the right thing by the racing industry worldwide, giving false hope that the race may happen.
“We understand it would have been a great selling point for Glorious Goodwood and we appreciate the more than generous offer from QIPCO in getting the conditions of the race to where they are but we will have to decline on this occasion.”
Black Caviar’s British campaign needs to finish by mid-July, taking quarantine into account, if she is to return home in time to be prepared for the Spring Carnival in Melbourne.
Goodwood will announce the entries for QIPCO Sussex Stakes, won last year in tremendous style by Frankel, at noon on Wednesday, May 30.
Adam Waterworth, managing director of Goodwood Racecourse, commented: “We are obviously disappointed that Black Caviar will not be entered in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes but fully understand her connections’ viewpoint.
“It was always going to be a long shot to have world’s top two horses race against each other because of their different distance requirements but we wanted to make sure we did everything we could to facilitate such a contest.
“Therefore, we are very grateful to QIPCO for increasing the prize money so much if Black Caviar and Frankel had met.
“The QIPCO Sussex Stakes, of course, remains a very significant Group One contest and we look forward to this year’s renewal, which may feature Frankel for a second year in succession. He would meet the current crop of three-year-old milers for the first time in the race.”
Rod Street, chief executive officer of the British Champions Series and Racing for Change, pointed out that Britain is lucky to have Black Caviar racing here.
He said: “We cannot underestimate the efforts it took to entice Black Caviar’s connections to travel across the globe to race in the UK in the first place. We should celebrate the fact that she is coming and adding another dimension to what could be the most memorable of Flat seasons.
“It’s natural that racing fans wanted to see a clash between Black Caviar and Frankel and it had all the makings of something very special. Nonetheless, it was always going to be difficult to find the right conditions for a sprinter to meet a miler, who has learned to settle and is likely to step up to beyond a mile.
“From a RfC point of view, our glass is much more than half full. The two best horses in the world, unbeaten in 31 races between them, will be racing in the UK this summer over the distances at which they excel. Come and see them!”
Black Caviar, a six-year-old mare trained by Peter Moody in Australia, owned by Gary & Kerryn Wilkie, Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Colin & Jannene Madden, Pam Hawkes, David & Jill Taylor and mostly partnered by Luke Nolen, has been successful on all her 21 starts from five to seven furlongs.
Frankel, a four-year-old colt trained by Sir Henry Cecil in Newmarket, owned by Khalid Abdulla and ridden by Tom Queally, has won 10 from 10 over seven furlongs and a mile.
