EVEN from his Perth training operation, Jim Taylor admits to having more than a cursory interest in the preparation of the world's best sprinter, Black Caviar, as the mare is aimed towards next year's summer-autumn carnival in Melbourne.
It's with good reason that Taylor monitors the progress of the all-conquering Black Caviar, as he intends to be in Melbourne early in the new year with his unbeaten sprinter Barakey.
But he is cautious at making extravagant plans, despite Barakey aiming for his 11th straight success in the group 1 $500,000 Winterbottom Stakes (1200 metres) at Ascot on Saturday.
Taylor has been around too long to make predictions that his sprinter will be a genuine rival to Black Caviar or even those on the second rung in Melbourne and Sydney. ''He's a very nice horse, he's got amazing speed, but it's another thing to come from local racing here in the west to taking on the very best sprinters in Melbourne,'' he said.
''The [Winterbottom Stakes] will very much be a litmus test for Barakey as he steps into weight-for-age racing for the first time and he's tackling horses from here in Perth and those flying in from the east coast.''
Taylor knew very early that Barakey had blistering speed. ''The first time I galloped the horse I matched him up with a local open-grade sprinter and Barakey beat him by 10 lengths, and the thought ran through my mind that the older horse must've broken down,'' he said.
''But when I quizzed the jockeys involved they pointed out that the young, unraced sprinter was just purely and simply too good.''
There was no secret about Barakey's stunning track gallop, as he was sent out $1.40 favourite at his debut.
Barakey's performance on Saturday will largely determine if the horse comes east for the autumn or remains in Western Australia.
''I'm under no illusions coming to Melbourne will be difficult,'' Taylor said. ''But when a horse from here comes to Melbourne they usually drop six or seven rating points because of the vast difference between our horses and those in Melbourne.
''He's rated 104 and that should drop and insure that if we got to races like the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket we come in pretty well under the handicap scale.
''I wouldn't image Black Caviar would go back to handicap racing, she'll be pretty confined to weight-for-age racing, and if she's at her top we're not silly enough to think we could topple her. But if they choose to retire her, I suppose that opens up all sorts of options for this bloke, but as I say, let's get over Saturday.''
Jockey Glen Boss will fly into Perth on a hit-and-run mission to take the ride on Travinator in the Winterbottom, with the sprinter winning four successive races - all over 1000 metres - since resuming.
From barrier one, Boss could well dictate the tactics of the race, as Travinator has carved out remarkable sectional times at his past two starts.
It was a point not lost on Taylor, who said he had a healthy respect for the other top local contender.
Barakey will also have to contend with Peter Snowden's Pinwheel, Queenslander Spirit Of Boom, South Australian Conservatorium and the much-travelled Gai Waterhouse sprinter Hallowell Belle.
Hallowell Belle has had her three starts this time in well spaced and reportedly has thrived in WA since arriving last week. Pinwheel, apart from his last-start blemish at Caulfield, had previously notched two wins in Sydney and should relish sitting off the expected blistering speed put on by the likes of Barakey and Travinator in the first half of the race.
Another local hope, Power Princess, who scored with ease at her first start back from a spell, could also be a benefactor of the hectic early tempo of the group 1 event.
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