In an era of elite super-sprinters, Black Caviar was the best of the best, unbeaten in 25 lifetime starts

Not long before the unbeatable Winx strode onto the scene, a stunning mare captured the imagination with an amazing display of galloping excellence not seen in Australia since Kingston Town in the 1980s, or ever for that matter. Black Caviar, an iconic figure in Australian racing, retired in 2013 after a remarkable career that rekindled the nation's passion for the sport. Her exceptional accomplishments secured her a prominent position in the hearts of racing enthusiasts, comparable to the legendary Phar Lap. She sits beside the elite few that raced through an unbeaten career, including the great Kincsem, sire of sires, Nearco, Ribot and Frankel.

Throughout the history of Australian thoroughbred racing, numerous exceptional racehorses have showcased their incredible abilities on the turf. Among these equine legends, Phar Lap, Lonhro, Makybe Diva, Carbine, and Super Impose stand out as notable examples. However, it is Melbourne's very own Black Caviar who holds the distinguished honour of being officially recognised as the world's fastest and best sprinter.

Born at Gilgai Farm in Nagambie on 18 August, 2006, Black Caviar captivated the public’s imagination in 2009, arriving on the scene as a two-year-old, starting twice and winning both, by five and six lengths respectively. Sold on behalf of Rick Jamieson to Peter Moody for a tidy sum of $210,000 at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sales, Black Caviar was the first foal of her unraced dam Helsinge, a daughter of the British racehorse Desert Sun, that never won a major race but was placed in the Craven Stakes and the Sandown Mile. Desert Sun also sired the champion New Zealand racemare, Sunline. Helsinge is also the dam of the excellent sire, All Too Hard, winner of the 2013 All Aged Stakes, the 2013 Futurity Stakes, the 2013 C F Orr Stakes, the 2012 Caulfield Guineas and runner-up in the 2012 Cox Plate. Trainer, Peter Moody and the ownership group were highly confident about the mare's potential, but no one could predict how dominant she would be on the turf.

Black Caviar showed promise as a two and three-year-old with her five wins from five starts, including two at Group 2 level. Black Caviar started twice as a two-year-old, winning her debut by 5 lengths before claiming the listed Blue Sapphire Stakes by 6 lengths. Returning as a three-year-old, she won first-up in a listed race by 4 lengths. Stepping up in class, she won the Gr.2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington, which caused concern when she stumbled at the start; however, she recovered to keep her winning run going, beating the colt Wanted, by ¾ of a length. She recovered from a chest injury in January 2010, with her resuming run taking on the older horses in the Gr.2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley, resulting in a win by 2½ lengths.

As a four-year-old in 2010-11 her career blossomed. After wins in the Schillaci Stakes and Moir Stakes, Black Caviar faced her first Group 1 challenge in the Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington during the Spring Racing Carnival. In what was described as “an astonishing demolition job”, she defeated a high quality field by four lengths. Returning to Flemington in the autumn she won the Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap at Flemington with ease, followed by the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. She then made it six Group 1 victories in succession with dominant wins in the T.J. Smith Stakes at Randwick and the BTC Cup up at Doomben, Queensland.

Returning to the track as a five-year-old in the spring of 2011, she won for the second time the Schillaci Stakes and Patinack Farm Classic. In the autumn of 2012 she stepped up to 1400m for the first time in the C.F. Orr Stakes, and won by three lengths. A week later she backed up in the Lightning Stakes which she won comfortably, again beating her perennial challenger, Hay List. Victory in the Lightning Stakes gave her 19 victories from 19 starts, thus equalling the long standing Australian record of Gloaming and Desert Gold. On 28 April, 2012, she established a new Australian record of 20 consecutive wins when she took out the Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide, adding a further win to her tally two weeks later in the Goodwood Handicap.

In June, 2012, Black Caviar journeyed overseas to compete in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes over 1200m at Royal Ascot. After taking the lead with some 200 metres to go, jockey Luke Nolen eased her back which enabled second running horse Moonlight Cloud to momentarily draw level with her. In the final strides before the line Nolen drove Black Caviar forward to win by a head. Veterinary examination revealed that Black Caviar had incurred injuries during the race, which resulted in her being scratched from running in the July Cup, and her early return to Australia. It was then announced she would undertake a lengthy spell in the paddock and not race during the 2012 Spring Racing Carnival. Black Caviar made her highly anticipated return to the racetrack for her third attempt at the Lightning Stakes which has been renamed the Black Caviar Lightning in her honour and not only won the race, but broke a 25-year-old track record when she passed the post in 55.42 seconds. Her final Victorian appearance yielded an impressive victory in the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley before the wonder mare farewelled racing with a final triumph in Sydney's Gr 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m).

Black Caviar became a cultural phenomenon. People clamoured to watch her race and witness her incredible performances. Her fluent sprint and impossibly long stride powered by her famous rear end was a joy to watch and she drew crowds that hadn’t been seen at the tracks for years. Much like Winx more recently, an appearance by the mare would guarantee huge crowds resulting in records not only broken on the track, but off, too. Her 20th straight win at Morphetville, in South Australia, smashed attendance records, with 30,000 fans turning out to see her race at a meeting where 900 was usually a good number. This also cemented her place as a runner and a winner in every mainland state of Australia.The topic of which horse was superior in the modern racing era, Black Caviar or Winx, has sparked considerable debate. While a definitive answer is elusive due to the absence of a direct competition between the two, our assessment suggests that Winx may have had an edge at the mile, while Black Caviar potentially held an advantage in the 1200-1400m range as the more capable sprinter. Black Caviar's exceptional record of 25 consecutive victories without a single defeat is likely to endure the test of time, solidifying her position as one of the most remarkable thoroughbred to have ever graced the racing tracks of Australia.

Since retiring, the four-time World Champion Sprinter has given birth to five foals. The first was a bay filly by Exceed and Excel, the now-retired Oscietra who won two races from five starts. Prince of Caviar, a colt by Sebring trained with the Hawkes stable and broke his maiden in September 2018, concluding its racing career, last running in Nov 2019 at Ballarat. She also had a filly by Snitzel, a filly by More Than Ready and just last October welcomed a fourth filly sired by I Am Invincible who unfortunately died, possibly from a heart attack or an aneurysm.

Champion racehorse Black Caviar, who captivated Australia with 25 wins from her 25 starts, died after giving birth to a Snitzel colt, then suffering a battle with laminitis, only a day before her 18th birthday on August 17th 2024.

Record - 25: 25–0–0

Earnings - $7,953,936

Diamond Jubilee Stakes (2012)

Newmarket Handicap (2011)

Lightning Stakes (2011, 2012, 2013)

Patinack Farm Classic (2010, 2011)

T J Smith Stakes (2011, 2013)

William Reid Stakes (2011, 2013)

BTC Cup (2011)

C F Orr Stakes (2012)

Australia Stakes (2010, 2012)

Schillaci Stakes (2010, 2011)

Schweppes Stakes (2010, 2011)

Danehill Stakes (2009)