Caviar in form of her life, says Moody - Sydney Morning Herald

Cruise control: Black Caviar toyed with her rivals again at Moonee Valley on Friday night, winning the William Reid Stakes to extend her unbeaten run to 24 races. Photo: Sebastian Costanzo

Black Caviar, Australia's horse for the ages, won her 24th straight race in truly imperious fashion at Mooney Valley on Friday night.

Luke Nolen, her partner in almost all of her record-setting run of two dozen victories on the trot, barely had to move as the wonder mare clicked into gear rounding the home turn to put away her six rivals with contemptuous ease.

Karuta Queen ($51) gave the Peter Moody stable a quinella in the group 1 William Reid Stakes, with Lloyd Williams' handy miler Fawkner ($26) third. The win prompted the delighted trainer to say: ''It's scary how she's going … she's probably never handled the Valley that well.''

Black Caviar now equals Kingston Town's record of 14 group 1 victories, but in truth such statistics are these days almost immaterial.

Moody simply said: ''I am lost for words. What do you say [with a performance like that]?''

''There's not many that can sit down and sprint when she says go,'' declared Moody with splendid understatement.

Moody admitted that he thinks the great horse is going as well as she ever has, her woes from the Royal Ascot expedition last year now well behind her. ''I've thought that for a while and she's proved me right twice now,'' he said. ''It was just great to see the people out here and to see her put on a wonderful show, it's not about the wins, it's about the great publicity she gives to sport in general and our industry.''

The daughter of Bel Esprit, which has exhausted the dictionary of superlatives, will head to Sydney for her next assignment in the group 1 T.J.Smith Stakes where she could meet her old rival Hay List, which is back in action after a long lay-off.

And after that, said Moody, anything was possible.

When asked if she might return to action during the carnival next spring Moody held out the tantalising prospect of another farewell Victorian appearance. ''You never say never … let's enjoy tonight, look to the TJ and worry about the spring when it comes around,'' he said.

For Moody, there is no rest. His Saturday was due to begin at Caulfield shortly after 3am before he jumps on a plane to Sydney where he has a strong hand of runners in the group 1 races at Rosehill.

The only thing that will stop his champion, he says, is wet tracks, and she won't be running if the ground is too soft.

Nothing, it seems, will stop the man himself and his punishing schedule.