No worries as Black Caviar lands 18th win

Report: Australia, Saturday

Caulfield: Sportingbet CF Orr Stakes (Group 1) 7f, turf, 3yo+

DESPITE stepping up in trip, the brilliant Black Caviar (Peter Moody/Luke Nolen) appeared to have little more than an exercise gallop as she completely overwhelmed her rivals to take her unbeaten record to 18 in the CF Orr Stakes.

Having her first start over 7f, the five-year-old was sent off a 1-20 shot before barely breaking sweat as she came home just over three lengthsclear of last year's Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed and Playing God.

"If you were writing a script that's how you'd like to see it play out," said winning rider Nolen. "I gave her a shake for 50 yards or so, then I throttled down."

Such was the ease of her latest victory that the dual world champion sprinter may now reappear in seven days' time in the Lightning Stakes, Australia's premier sprint over 5f at Flemington, before a probable trip to Meydan for the Dubai Golden Shaheen and then the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"If she pulls up well, you might see her again in seven days, and if she comes through that all right, she might be back here seven days later," said trainer Peter Moody.

After a decent break in Saturday's race, Nolen settled Black Caviar in fourth place about three lengths off a dawdling pace set by Danzylum before easing her upsides just after halfway.

She was never asked a question as she sauntered away as they entered the Caulfield straight before winning as she liked to register her 18^th successive victory, thereby equalling the Australian metropolitan record posted by Ajax between 1937 and 1939.

"What do you say? It's unbelievable," added Moody. "I know people doubt the opposition but they are good horses - there is a Caulfield Cup winner who looked outstanding three weeks ago. What she does to good horses is beyond belief."

The Australasian record for consecutive victories at top-level tracks is 19, held jointly by New Zealand-based pair Desert Gold and Gloaming. However, both Miss Petty and Sava Jet won 22 on the spin at low-grade Queensland bush tracks.

Also on Saturday

Caulfield: Carlyon Cup (Group 3) 1m, turf, 4yo+

Now with the Black Caviar team, former Luca Cumani-trained Manighar (Peter Moody/Luke Nolen) recorded his first win for nearly two years as he started off over 1m for his new trainer.

Last year's Melbourne Cup fifth was sent off a 7-1 chance before scoring by nearly two lengths over Shadowfax as he ran for the first time at a trip short of 1m4f.

"Four or five weeks ago he was a 4,000-metre hurdler with all due respect but we sharpened his work up and the last couple of weekshe started to show a turn of foot," said Moody, speaking to AAP Racing.

He will now target a pair of Group 1 targets, the Darley Australian Cup at Flemington on March 10 and the BMW at Rosehill in Sydney on April 7.

Caulfield: Autumn Stakes (Group 2) 7f, turf, 3yo

Darley trainer Peter Snowden won this Group 2 for the third time in four years with lightly-raced Pied A Terre (Mark Zahra), beaten just once in five starts.

"He is still a bit soft and hasn't furnished yet," Snowden told AAP. "There are options back in Sydney for him, probably more than down here really, but we will decide in the next couple of days what we do. The key to him is to keep him fresh."

Rosehill: Expressway Stakes (Group 2) 6f, turf, 3yo+

Odds-on shot Rain Affair (Joe Pride/Corey Brown) made all, blasting out of the stalls before slamming his rivals to take his winning streak to eight on a slow track in Sydney.

The Group 1 Newmarket Handicap looks the obvious target as he steps up the ranks after taking his career record to nine wins in ten starts.