AS if anticipation for next week's Royal Ascot meeting was not enough, news emerged on Friday (Australian time) that Black Caviar, the unbeaten wonder mare of Australian racing, is on her way to the 2012 meeting.
TONY SMURTHWAITE reported for the RACING POST that The winner of 13 races, including six Group 1 contests, has yet to race outside Australia but such is her standing that overtures from Ascot and elsewhere have come thick and fast.
The announcement of an intended visit to Britain came from JeffO'Connor, racing manager to Black Caviar's trainer Peter Moody, during a press conference in Newmarket to which he was invited to discuss her stablemate Hinchinbrook, who runs in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at the royal meeting on Saturday week.
"Everyone in the Black Caviar camp is all for being here next year," said O'Connor. "Pete [Moody] gave me the okay to mention that.
"As far as her campaign is concerned, we will get together next month to finalise that. The question is whether we go overseas with her before Royal Ascot. We want her to try and get some world-class prestige."
Hinchinbrook, a general 14-1 shot behind 5-1 favourite Delegator for the Golden Jubilee, exercised on the Bury Hill gallop at Newmarket on Thursday morning in preparation.
O'Connor added: "Hinchinbrook has been running well behind exceptional sprinters. I think he is terrific value as he is in good form."
SPORTINGLIFE.com reports that Black Caviar, the world's top-rated sprinter, is to race at Royal Ascot next year.
The Australian-trained five-year-old mare, unbeaten in 13 outings including six Group Ones, will be aimed at the six-furlong Golden Jubilee or possibly the mile Queen Anne Stakes.
Jeff O'Connor, the spokesman for trainer Peter Moody's stable, announced the decision at a press conference in Newmarket on Thursday.
O'Connor commented: "The plan is to run Black Caviar at Royal Ascot next year - Peter asked me to mention that. As far as her lead-up campaign is concerned, we will get together next month to finalise that. The question is whether we go overseas with her before Royal Ascot. We want her to try and get some world-class prestige."
Meanwhile Moody has sent over Hinchinbrook to contest the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes on Saturday June 18 and the four-year-old Fastnet Rock colt exercised on the Bury Hill gallop at Newmarket this morning in preparation.
O'Connor said: "Hinchinbrook has been running well behind exceptional sprinters. It is very hard to win a big Group One sprint at home at the moment because of the two stars, Black Caviar and Hay List.
"Hinchinbrook is probably our (Australia's) best colt - Black Caviar is a mare and Hay List is a gelding. I think he is terrific value at 12/1 as he is in good form."
Luke Nolen, who partnered a winner at Ascot during last year's Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, has been booked for Hinchinbrook.