BLACK CAVIAR OUT FOR SPRING

Black Caviar's spring is over.

Trainer Peter Moody told the Herald Sun today that the world champion mare will not head to Perth for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot on November 19.

Moody stressed that Black Caviar was not injured but just suffering from a “bit of wear and tear”.

He said Black Caviar “felt the run” on Saturday after winning her 16th successive start when she won the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington.

“After talking to the owners, we weighed up the pros and cons and we’ve decided she won’t be going to Perth,” Moody said.

“She’s just come to the end of it. It was a hot day, firm track and so we decided she can have a break.”

Moody said jockey Luke Nolen first flagged concerns when the pair discussed the mare’s second successive win in the Patinack Farm Classic, her seventh Group 1 win.

“Luke just said ‘it was great, but she wasn’t at her top’,” Moody said.

(Ed. One can only imagine how much she would have won by if she’d been “at her top”)

“I just think she pulled up feeling the ground a bit and that’s not a criticism of the track. I don’t want people hanging the trackman.”

Moody said the plane trip to Perth would have provided Black Caviar an experience of flying, something she has to do next year when she travels to England for Royal Ascot.

“I would have loved her to have that experience and it’s also disappointing for the people of Perth,” he said.

“She’s just going to have a break now.”

Black Caviar’s 2012 campaign is expected to kick off in the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday, January 27.

Moody said he’s keen to push Black Caviar beyond 1200 metres for the first time in the C.F. Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes, both run over 1400 metres at Caulfield in February.