Black Caviar exhibition unveiled at Flemington

Phar Lap, Bart Cummings, Makybe Diva and Roy Higgins are immortalised at Flemington racecourse with statues dotted around the famous course. 

While a statue of Black Caviar may be located at Caulfield, the Victoria Racing Club on Thursday unveiled a fitting history of the champion mare in The Forum at Flemington racecourse ahead of the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) on Saturday. 

Named 'The Perfect Run', it showcases the career of Black Caviar who went undefeated in 25 starts, including eight victories at Flemington where her career commenced as a two-year-old in April 2009 and came to a close in the T J Smith at Randwick four years later. 

The exhibition has a cross section of trophies and memorabilia that span Black Caviar's career while a photo gallery and brief story captures each of her 25 wins. 

Trainer Peter Moody, jockey Luke Nolen and the ownership group of Black Caviar were all in attendance for the unveiling of the exhibition that will be open to the public on Saturday. 

Moody said it was an unbelievable ride, but a terrifying ride, managing Black Caviar through all of those 25 starts that saw the mare win close to $8 million in prize money. 

"The last time she went on to a racetrack totally sound was her second or third start in a race," Moody said. 

"As Luke touched on earlier, it was more about relief (after every win) than enjoyment, which is sad when you have something that good. 

"I had wonder staff and wonderful people around me and it had to be, as you could not handle it by yourself and for me personally, and Luke personally, our families were a big part of it. 

"We didn't cook and that didn't feed onto the horse." 

Moody said it was special to come back to win again after it had been planned to retire Black Caviar following her victory in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot in June 2012. 

It had been planned to announce Black Caviar's retirement when the ownership group and everyone involved had returned from their overseas adventures following Royal Ascot. 

"We had basically retired her after Ascot, but everyone was heading off on their European vacations, and we were going to get together when everyone got home and announce her retirement," Moody said. 

"But to get her back for those three runs afterwards, that was something very special." 

Moody recounted Black Caviar meeting The Queen after her win at Royal Ascot which he said was very special for everyone involved. 

"Everyone got invited to morning tea earlier in the week, except me, and I think they were all a bit toey about me meeting her on race day," Moody said. 

"Just to see her love of the horse and to see her come down into the enclosure, which I believe hadn't happened before, and gave the horse a pat, was very special. 

"She was that buggered after the race, and we had Paddy (Bell) on one side and me on the other, and there were so many people in the yard that we were that worried someone might give her a smack on that big bum of hers. 

"I thought crikey, if she takes offence to it, we might take out The Queen here with Black Caviar. 

"I don't know how she would have gone with 600 kilos running over the top of her. There might have been a change of Monarch and Charlie might have got the gig a few years earlier. 

"And we would have been really considered convicts then."