Black Caviar has accomplished what Zenyatta could not.
The Australian sprinter won the Sportingbet Classic at Morphettville Racecourse near Adelaide, Australia, on Saturday to improve to 20-for-20 lifetime. That's one better than the popular US runner Zenyatta, who started 19-for-19 before she lost to Blame in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic.
Black Caviar, a 5-year-old mare, set an Australasian record with her 20 straight victories. At 1-20 odds Saturday, she was virtually unchallenged and won the $408,000, Group 1 race by 4-1/2 lengths. Sistine Angel was second at 30-1 odds, and 50-1 shot Power Princess finished third, a nose out of second.
Jockey Luke Nolen kept Black Caviar on a tight hold, settled in third place, until the home turn. She then quickly assumed command and won going away. Black Caviar ran 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) in 1 minute, 10.65 seconds.
Australia hasn't produced a sprinter that can keep up with Black Caviar, but, if plans hold, she will be tested by tougher competition when she spends the Northern Hemisphere summer in England. Trainer Peter Moody plans to send her to the Royal Ascot meeting.
"We haven't been on a plane with her before, and it's a long way from home," Nolen said, according to a BBC report. "But she's got a great constitution and a lovely nature to go with it, so I'm sure she'll cope with it fine.
"She's a mare who appreciates a straight track. Ascot is going to play right to her strengths."
Moody hinted that Black Caviar could make one more start, the Goodwood Stakes in two weeks at Morphettville, before departing Australia.
The previous best win streak by a Australasian runner was by Desert Gold (1915-17) and Gloaming (1919-21).
