Black Caviar will not come to Dubai for World Cup night after the owners of the world's best sprinter decided to give their mare a break ahead of a trip to Royal Ascot.
The six year old picked up her 19th consecutive success when winning the Group 1 Lightning Stakes over 1,000 metres in Melbourne on Saturday which teed up a possible run in either the Al Quoz sprint or Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan racecourse on March 31.
It was Black Caviar's third run in under a month and trainer Peter Moody will hand the nine-time Group 1 winner a well earned rest before she heads to England to contest the Diamond Jubilee Stakes over 1,200 metres on June 23.
"While both myself and the owners were very grateful for all the assistance shown to us by the Dubai Racing Club, what concerned me about taking her to Dubai was the fact that she would be away from home for four months leading up to the Diamond Jubilee," Moody said. "It was just too big an assignment. She will spend a couple of week's R&R, just enjoying herself roaming around the paddock. From there we get ready to take on the Poms at Royal Ascot.
"That's the Royal Ascot race the owners have had their sights on for some time and everything is being tailored like a Savile Row suit to have her cherry-ripe for that race.
"I can't wait, I reckon Black Caviar will show them a thing or two."
Black Caviar had been entered in both the Al Quoz sprint over 1,000 metres on turf and the Dubai Golden Shaheen over 200 metres further on Tapeta and Moody highlighted that the latter would have been the intended target.
"The artificial Tapeta surface wasn't a concern and sure the $1.2 million prizemoney was most appealing, but what is and always will be first and foremost is what is best for Black Caviar," he added, in a column for the Herald Sun newspaper.
The mare will, however, attempt to break the Australasian record at premier tracks by securing her 20th successive victory in the Robert Sangster Stakes on April 28 or the Goodwood a fortnight later.
The BTC Cup on May 12 is also an option.
