THE SHOWDOWN

It’s shaping as one of the greatest showdowns in sprinting history: Black Caviar vs Hay List.
Yesterday at Caulfield, Black Caviar stretched her record to six wins from as many starts and, boys and girls, wasn’t she impressive.
Trainer Peter Moody expressed some caution pre-race and, given the quality of the field in the Group Two $200,000 Schillaci Stakes – eg. Statue of Liberty’s multiple Group winner Mic Mac, Group Two winner First Command, recent stakes winner Winter King, General Truce (Group Two placed at his last outing) and Group One winning 2YO Star Witness – Black Caviar had her work cut out for her.
However, the sheer dominance of her victory has now set up one of the greatest sprinting duels in living memory.
After all, Hay List has been nothing short of phenomenal this spring with command performances in both the Group One Manikato and the Group Two Gilgai Stakes last Sunday, taking his tally to 12 wins and a second from 14 outings.
Although jockey Luke Nolen said post-Schillaci that he’d prefer Black Caviar to have another run under her girth before clashing with Hay List, it’s likely the two shall meet on the Moonee Valley battlefield come Cox Plate day in the Group Two Moir Stakes.
Best of all, the sires of Black Caviar (BEL ESPRIT) and Hay List (STATUE OF LIBERTY) both stand at Eliza Park and, while Statue of Liberty’s book is more crowded than New York harbour on a sunny day, there are still some noms available to Bel Esprit … but not for long!

Hoofnote: Schillaci was the champion sprinter of his day winning Melbourne’s sprinting triple crown – Lightning (twice), Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket – along with two Futuritys and a Galaxy … 14 stakes races all up between 1991 and 1995.
He also won the Moir but it’s highly unlikely that any of his races held promise of the ‘match race’ they’re predicting for Black Caviar and Hay List.