Newmarket an outside chance for Caviar

Sunday 17 February 2013, 3:48pm

A Newmarket Handicap start will be considered for the all-conquering Black Caviar, but the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley remains the favoured option for the champion mare.

As he analysed and savoured the 23rd victory of her unbeaten career on Sunday, Moody said a temptation existed to tackle the Newmarket, a race Black Caviar won in 2011 with a performance officially ranked as her best.

"The Newmarket is a great race and it's on her favourite track," Moody said.

He said the Flemington straight track suited the mare whose career has been punctuated by injuries because it placed even strain on her suspect legs.

On the other hand, Moody said his respect for the likely opposition in the Newmarket, some of which he has intimate knowledge, made him cautious.

Moody made it clear last week he had run Lightning Stakes second placegetter Moment Of Change on Saturday to give him Flemington experience ahead of the Newmarket.

He pointed out that Moment Of Change would benefit from a turnaround of some 9kg on Black Caviar from the Lightning to the Newmarket in which the mare has been all-but guaranteed topweight of 61.5kg.

Moody gave a clue as to his opinion of Moment Of Change, saying he had to "take a big gulp" as he watched the Lightning and saw his second string runner still travelling strongly at the 400m.

While the Newmarket card is "on the table", it seems likely Moody will trump it with the William Reid Stakes, run at weight-for-age over 1200m at Moonee Valley on March 22.

As good as Black Caviar's eight-win record at Flemington maybe, she also shown a fondness for Moonee Valley where she has won six races.

From a more immediate viewpoint, Moody said Black Caviar had pulled up well from her exertions in Saturday's heat-wave.

He said her legs had been iced, she'd had a precautionary dose of anti-inflammatory medication after the race and had been for a short Sunday-morning swim.

"At this stage she's pulled up fine," he said.

The mare's managing part-owner Neil Werrett told Sydney's Sky Sports Radio race options would be discussed when the group got together with Moody at Thursday's Hall of Fame function where Black Caviar is touted to be among this year's inductees.

Moody also confirmed his recent acquisition Karuta Queen would run in next week's Oakleigh Plate against the unbeaten Perth sprinter Barakey.

He could also have as many as four runners in the Blue Diamond Stakes on the same Caulfield program with Kona Breeze to join the stable's top pair Thermal Current and Dissident with Quest For Peace a likely starter if she makes the field.

– AAP

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