Wundermare: Australia's Black Caviar goes 19 straight

Feb 18, 2012, 7:53 GMT

Sydney - Wonder horse Black Caviar extended her unbeaten run to 19 races at Melbourne's Flemington on Saturday, equalling the Australian record despite dropping down to 1,000 metres from last week's winning run at 1,400 metres.

The massive mare may race again next week before seeking world domination in the Middle East and Europe.

Television stations interrupted programming to see whether Black Caviar could win at a different distance within seven days.

'This is probably the most vulnerable we're going to get Black Caviar,' Michael Ross said before riding Buffering into third place behind the Black Caviar and second-placed Hay List.

More than 30,000 spectators - three times the number of last year - were at Flemington to witness the 5-year-old tie the national record set before World War II and held jointly by Gloaming and Desert Gold.

'She's clearly going to be called the best sprinter ever seen,' racing commentator John Rothfield told national broadcaster ABC. 'She's one of those rare horses that transcends the sport, that gets racing on the front pages.'

Jockey Luke Nolan, pilot for 16 of Black Caviar's 19 consecutive wins, said the horse's popularity was unequalled.

'It's quite overwhelming,' he said. 'You're talking to people who've come from all corners of the world just to see her. It's amazing that a racehorse can touch people like that.'

Black Caviar is expected to race in Dubai's Golden Shaheen in March and in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in England in June.

At Royal Ascot, Black Caviar would take on Frankel, a sprinter unbeaten in nine outings.

Rothfield said the pair could be installed as joint favourites, but he liked the Australian horse's chances.

'The times don't lie and the weights don't lie,' he said. 'She's run scintillating times and she's carried big weights.'