Black Caviar: plan is to give her two more workouts before London flight
PICTURE: Getty ImagesTwo more track gallops for Caviar after workout
Australia: Black Caviar may not do any serious work in England prior to Royal Ascot with trainer Peter Moody keen to do as much as he can at home before she boards the London- bound flight.
The five-year-old, who worked on Tuesday at Caulfield, is set for two more racecourse gallops before heading to the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on June 23.
Moody said Black Caviar "had a good blow" after a crucial gallop under big-race rider Luke Nolen at Caulfield on Tuesday when she reeled off 1,000 metres, when she came home in 22.9 seconds for the last 400m.
It was her first serious gallop since posting her 21st win in Adelaide's Goodwood 17 days ago.
"The plan was to gallop her this morning and then she will do pace work again on Saturday and maybe a bit of a working gallop and then possibly have a course proper gallop here again next Monday," Moody told TVN.
Moody said he didn't want to train Black Caviar too much in England in case she didn't handle the flight as well as expected.
"I am confident she has learned to look after herself well and she will cope with the trip but you just never know," Moody said.
He said that he was both excited and nervous about taking Black Caviar to England, mindful that so many things could go wrong.
Moody has arranged for three people, including assistant trainer Tony Haydon and stable veterinarian Peter Angus, to accompany her on the 30-hour trip which includes two stopovers.
"The travel does worry me," Moody said. "It is daunting."
His worst fear is that it may take too much out of Black Caviar and she may not race again in Australia.
"It is certainly exciting but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit tentative, bit nervous about it all," he said.
"I would much rather be going around here in far more suitable races in our own environment, but sometimes I suppose we have got to take the cotton wool off and go and do these things.
"I suppose we run the risk that she could have run her last race in Australia if she goes over there and something goes pear-shaped or she doesn't cope with it well or whatever.
"It could have been the last time we have seen her on a racetrack. That would be very disappointing and sad for me and probably Australian racing in general but let's hope that is not the case. She is great form and going every bit as good as she ever has."
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