Newmarket, England // A leading Australian trainer says Black Caviar will prove her European doubters wrong at Royal Ascot, where the world's highest-rated sprinter runs in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in two weeks.
Black Caviar concluded her journey from Australia to England on Thursday - after stopovers in Singapore and Sharjah - and was transferred to Abington House Stables in Newmarket.
The six-year-old mare is unbeaten in 21 starts in Australia and although there is a healthy respect in England about her abilities, Paul Messara has encountered disbelieving sentiments at England's racing headquarters.
The trainer arrived two weeks ago to step up Ortensia's preparations ahead of the Al Quoz sprint winner's challenge in the King's Stand Stakes, which is run on the opening day of the five-day Royal Meeting on June 19.
"Black Caviar will face the worst field she has ever raced against here," Messara said. "There is no chance she'll get beat if she arrives without problems. Zero. These guys over here are kidding themselves, it is almost a joke."
Messara is well-versed in the dangers that thoroughbred racehorses can suffer during the arduous journey from Australia, which can take over 30 hours. Two years ago his mare, Alverta, lost 40kgs on the flight to England. She performed well below expectations when finishing 14th in the Golden Jubilee Stakes before running third in the Group 1 July Cup.
"We have the best sprinters, it's simple," Messara said. "Our sprinters win over here, having been on a plane for over 30 hours and very few of them are 100 per cent when they arrive.
"She only needs to be 80 per cent to win. I'm sure connections won't give her a hard time but from an Australian point of view I'd love it if they got stuck in to her and she won by half the track."
The interest in Australia reached fever pitch yesterday and the television channel TVN announced that not only would it be screening the race live there but also that a film crew will accompany the mare.
"Black Caviar is the people's horse, she belongs to the nation, and we are very fortunate to be associated with her," said Gary Wilkie of TVN. "With her unbeaten record, and first trip to take on the world at Royal Ascot, we are committed to ensuring her programme is captured for all and recorded for the history of racing.
"We feel a great sense of excitement and national pride."
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