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THE brilliant Black Caviar (Peter Moody/Luke Nolen) duly won again as she cut back in trip to 5f at Flemington on Saturday - but the Lightning Stakes was a rarity for the mare as she was made to work for a victory that equalled the Australasian city record of 19 consecutive wins.
Only a week after a bloodless victory on her first start at 7f in the CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield, the five-year-old won her ninth Group 1 contest back at the minimum in the nation's premier 1,000-metre event, which is also the first leg in the Global Sprint Challenge.
However, on this occasion Black Caviar was forced to work for her victory after she traded blows in the A$750,000 (£510,000) contest with old rival Hay List (gave 2kg), a top-class sprinter in his own right.
Black Caviar produced an amazing sectional under the 10-second mark halfway through the race which gave her a break over her rivals but Hay List got back to her flank at the furlong marker before the dual world champion sprinter pulled out more to hold her old rival by a length and three-quarters.
"I've got to take my hat off to that mare," said jockey Luke Nolen. "She fought it out - how much courage she has!"
Buffering took third as 1-10 shot Black Caviar stopped the clock in a time of 55.53s, 0.03s outside the track record. The last 600 metres was timed at 31.82s.
Trainer Peter Moody's initial response was to rule out an intended run in next weekend'sFuturity Stakes before heading overseas for the Dubai Golden Shaheen and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
"She's an equine freak I suppose," said Moody. "She's the best horse and Luke rode her accordingly. Sheloves the straight - she's a champion."
Black Caviar's 19th victory means she has earned a share of the Australasian record for consecutive victories at top-level tracks, held jointly by New Zealanders Desert Gold (1915-17) and Gloaming (1919-21).
However, both Miss Petty and Sava Jet won 22 on the spin at low-grade Queensland bush tracks.
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