In her first run since November, Australia's undefeated supermare Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}) rolled to her 17th straight win in the G2 Australia S. at Moonee Valley Friday night. Unhurried from the gate and sitting a few lengths off pacesetter Zedi Knight (Aus) (Zeditave {Aus}) and the pressing Doubtful Jack (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}), Black Caviar drew closer at the midway point. As they approached the left-hand turn into the stretch, she cruised up three wide under her own resolve, and once straightened for home pulled away with devastating ease. The winning margin was four lengths. Zedi Knight finished second, with Black Caviar's stablemate Doubtful Jack another 4 1/2 lengths back in third. The final time of the 1200-meter turf sprint was 1:09.44, just .15 off the track record established by subsequent 2007 G1 King's Stand S. heroine Miss Andretti (Aus) (Ihtiram {Ire}). "It was great to see her back," trainer Peter Moody told racenet.com.au. "They raced in 1:09-something. It was easy to say she was unextended, but how much faster do they go? It was wonderful to see her back in great shape. Her attitude was good, her action was terrific, so hopefully, it's the start of a wonderful six months."

An International Black Out?
   It's been nearly three years since Black Caviar debuted a winner at Flemington in April of 2009, but improbably, her wins just seem to get easier and easier. A perfect eight-for-eight in 2011, she wrapped up a successful campaign with wins in the G2 Schweppes Schillaci S. at Caulfield Oct. 8, G2 Schweppes S. at Moonee Valley Oct. 22 and G1 Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington Nov. 5. In her return to Moonee Valley on Friday, track officials were prompted to admit fans free of charge after ticket lines became too long to service. And despite the sweltering conditions, the imposing mare delivered for the appreciative crowd. "She is just terrific for our sport; she's puts us on the front page for all the right reasons," said Peter Moody. The conditioner told racenet.com.au that Black Caviar will now attempt a Group 1 double in the C F Orr S. and Futurity S. at Caulfield next month. He also left the door open for international travel, with Dubai and Great Britain possible destinations. "We'll use the old adage of [AFL coach] Kevin Sheedy, to take it one game at a time," Moody told the publication. "There's a race for her every Saturday on the eastern seaboard of Australia and other parts of the world for next six months."

Friday, Moonee Valley, Australia
AUSTRALIA S.-G2, A$200,000, 3yo/up, 1200mT,
1:09 2/5, fm.
1--BLACK CAVIAR (AUS), 124, m, 5, by Bel Esprit (Aus)
        1st Dam: Helsinge (Aus), by Desert Sun (GB)
        2nd Dam: Scandinavia (Aus), by Snippets (Aus)
        3rd Dam: Song of Norway (Aus), by Vain (Aus)
O-G J& Mrs K J Wilkie, et al; B-R Jamieson; T–Peter Moody; J-Luke Nolen; A$120,000. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Aus, 17-0-0-0. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Zedi Knight (Aus), 129, g, 7, Zeditave (Aus)--Sly Sandra (Aus), by Sealed Bid (NZ). O-AJ, MA, DJ, CA Beck & A Luff; B-C J Dow; T-B J McCarthy; A$36,000.
3--Doubtful Jack (Aus), 129, g, 5, Not a Single Doubt (Aus)--Tootsie Roll (Aus), by Marscay (Aus). O-A J Meads; B-D P Bentata; T-Peter Moody; A$18,000.
Margins: 4, 4HF, HF. Odds: 1-5, 30-1, 50-1.  
Also Ran: Rock Classic (Aus), Sound Journey (Aus), Hollowlea (Aus).
Click for the Racing Post chart, the racingandsports.com.au PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree.

4th-GPX, $51,000, Alw, Opt. Clm. ($100,000), C, 4yo/up, 1m, 1:35 4/5, ft.
1--BOYS AT TOSCONOVA, 123, c, 4, Officer--Little Bonnet (SP, $143,716), by Coronado's Quest. ($25,000 wlng '08 KEENOV; $35,000 yrl '09 KEESEP). O-Jay Em Ess Stable, Hot Racing Stable LLC, R Hale Jr, T Cady & D Kanakaris; B-Hertrich/McCarthy Livestock LLC (KY); T-Richard E Dutrow, Jr. Lifetime Record: GISW, 8-5-2-1, $658,960.

2--Groupie Doll, 118, f, 4, Bowman's Band--Deputy Doll, by Silver Deputy.
3--Flatter This, 119, h, 5, Flatter--Val U Me, by You and I. ($8,500 yrl '08 FTKOCT).
Margins: 3/4, 4HF, HD. Odds: 0.80, 2.20, 48.50.
   Boys At Tosconova, hero of the GI Three Chimneys Hopeful S. and second-place finisher in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, made it three straight wins with a game tally here. Favored at 4-5, the dark bay dueled with the filly Groupie Doll from the inside through an opening quarter in :24.63. Groupie Doll edged clear through a half mile in :47.24, and had the lead in the stretch, but Boys At Tosconova's class surfaced when it mattered most, fighting backlate for a hard-fought decision. Boys At Tosconova returned from the bench with a third-place finish in a salty $50,000 optional claimer at Belmont Oct. 8, then scored in a $35,000 optional tagger at the Big A Nov. 11, and an $80,000 optional at Gulfstream most recently Dec. 23. Click for the brisnet.com chart or the video replay.

6th-GPX, $43,600, Alw, Opt. Clm. ($75,000), NW1X, 3yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:17 1/5, ft.
TABLE THREE TEN (f, 3, El Prado {Ire}--Hopes and Dreams {SP, $122,084}, by More Than Ready), purchased privately by Team Valor International after debuting in style for Cobra Farm Inc and trainer Michael Stidham at Fair Grounds Nov. 25 (video), was hammered down to 3-5 to stay perfect here. The gray tugged her way to the front to press the early leaders through an opening quarter in :22.75, enjoyed a narrow advantage into the stretch and edged clear late to score by 1 3/4 lengths over Miss Quisqueya (Successful Appeal). Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $48,060. Click for the brisnet.com chart or the video replay.
O-Team Valor International. B-Cobra Farm & Suzanne Biszantz (KY). T-H Graham Motion.

4th-SAX, $57,050, Msw, 3yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:15 2/5, ft.
   +MELROSE WOODS (f, 3, Broken Vow--Charitabledonation {SW}, by Saint Ballado), a $40,000 KEENOV juvenile purchase out of last year's Ned Evans dispersal, was completely ignored at odds of 45-1 while debuting with Lasix. Settled in fifth through fractions of :21.47 and :44.33, the chestnut was swung out for the stretch drive and exploded down the lane once switching leads to get up for a half-length tally. Flashy Dame (Afleet Alex), favored at 9-5, finished second. The victress is a half-sister to Charitable Man (Lemon Drop Kid), MGSW, $475,800. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $33,600. Click for the brisnet.com chart or the video replay.
   O-Thor-Bred Stable LLC. B-Edward P Evans (VA). T-Dan L Hendricks.

Black Caviar

© Bronwyn Healy

Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}) returns to action in Friday's G2 Australia S. at Moonee Valley ... Juvenile champion Hansen (Tapit) draws post four in a field of six for Sunday's GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park ... Marie Kizenko provides all the coverage of yesterday's first session of the Cape Premier Yearling Sale, plus details her trip to the Milnerton training center and a meeting with South African champion Igugu (Aus) (Galileo {Ire}). All that and more in today's TDN!

AL RASHIDIYA SPONSORED BY DUBAI DUTY FREE-G2, $200,000, Meydan, 1-26, NH4yo/up/SH3yo/up, 1800mT, 1:54.00, gd.
1--MUSIR (AUS), 129, h, 5, by Redoute's Choice (Aus)
        1st Dam: Dizzy de Lago (Aus) (SP-Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus)
        2nd Dam: Spring Reel (GB), by Mill Reef
        3rd Dam: The Dancer (Fr), by Green Dancer.
O/B-Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum; T-Mike de Kock; J-Christophe Soumillon; $120,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt-SAF, Hwt. 3yo Colt-UAE, G1SW-SA, G1SP-HK, GSP-Eng, GSW-Tur, 14-8-3-2, €2,391,902. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--City Style, 126, g, 6, City Zip--Brattothecore, by Katahaula County. (110,000gns HIT '07 TATAUT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Stonerside Stable; T-Mahmood Al Zarooni; $40,000.
3--Marcret (Ity), 126, h, 5, Martino Alonso (Ire)--Love Secret, by Secreto. O-Scuderia SIBA; B-Azienda Agricola Antezzate SRL; T-Marco Botti; $20,000.
Margins: 1, 3HF, 1 1/4.
Also Ran: Trois Rois (Fr), Presvis (GB), Le Drakkar (Aus), Win For Sure (Ger), Rajsaman (Fr). Scratched: Sandagiyr (Fr).
Click for the Racing Post chart or the video replay.
   A champion in his native South Africa, having garnered the 2009 renewal of the G1 Golden Horsehoe, Musir has since established himself as an accomplished performer at this venue. After racking up a brace of wins in the 2010 G3 UAE 2000 Guineas and G2 UAE Derby, the bay was off until the following year's Carnival when a second to Twice Over (GB) (Observatory) in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 represented his best piece of form. Sent on his travels, he was third in both the G1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin in April and G2 Hungerford S. over seven furlongs at Newbury in August before regaining the winning thread in the G2 International Topkapi Trophy back at a mile at Veliefendi the following month. Returning here with a three-length defeat of stable companion Master of Hounds (Kingmambo) in the Jan{plain .

3rd-OPX, $40,000, Msw, 3yo, 5 1/2f, 1:05 1/5, my.
   +APPREHENDER (g, 3, Posse--Missy's Mirage {MGISW, $838,894}, by Stop the Music), a $21,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, was gunned to the lead, set fractions of :23.22 and :47.27, and opened daylight in the stretch to graduate by 7 1/2 lengths at odds of 5-1. Alternative (Limehouse) was second. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $24,000. Click for the brisnet.com chart or the video replay.
   O-Dream Farm LLC. B-Jayeff B Stables (KY). T-Ingrid Mason.