HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN

We’re not the only ones excited … this, today, from the RVL website:

The 150th Emirates Melbourne Cup may have commanded the headlines, but the most anticipated showdown of the 2010 Spring Racing Carnival will occur this Saturday at Flemington.
The title of the world’s best sprinter will be on the line when heavyweight champions Black Caviar (BEL ESPRIT) and Hay List (STATUE OF LIBERTY) meet for the first time.
The showdown will occur in the $750,000 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) - the seventh leg of the 2010 Global Sprint Challenge - after both accepted for the Group One contest this morning.
The Global Sprint Challenge showcases eight of the world’s best sprint races across Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.
Australia’s two legs are both held at Flemington. They are Saturday’s Patinack Farm Classic and the Coolmore Lightning Stakes which opened the 2010 Challenge in January with Nicconi victorious.
Victoria’s glamour girl Black Caviar is unbeaten in seven starts and comes off a 5.5 length win in the Group Two Schweppes Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on 23 October.
The Peter Moody-trained mare will be ridden for the first time by Ben Melham who replaces the suspended Luke Nolen.
Hay List, the John McNair-trained giant from New South Wales, has won 12 of his 14 starts and was a last start winner over the track and distance of Saturday’s Classic in the Group Two Gilgai Stakes.
Adding spice to the much anticipated heavyweight showdown is a star-studded support cast.
The remaining runners are last Saturday’s Group One 3YO winner Star Witness, defending champion All Silent, 2010 Newmarket Handicap runnerup Eagle Falls and the brilliant mares Ortensia and Melito.
The Patinack Farm Classic will be run at 2.05pm and shares top billing on a nine race card with the $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m).