Black Caviar 7/9/09

Top filly unlikely for 1000 Guineas
Brad Waters
Monday, 7 September 2009
The brilliant Melbourne filly Black Caviar's spring campaign has been thrown into chaos after she injured herself in Saturday's Group II Danehill Stakes at Flemington.
Black Caviar's trainer Peter Moody, pictured, said it was now unlikely Black Caviar would run in the Group I Thousand Guineas in October even if she recovers quickly from her injury.
"The Guineas would probably be too hard time-wise even if she's right to resume work in a week," Moody said. "As of now we don't have much of a plan with her until we look at her again."
Moody sensed the unbeaten filly had sustained an injury when she began awkwardly in Saturday's race before picking herself up to beat the colts down the Flemington straight.
Moody said the daughter of Bel Esprit was x-rayed on Sunday before the stable discovered Black Caviar had torn a chest muscle when inspecting the filly on Monday morning, Moody likening the problem to a torn pectoral muscle in a human.
"She was noticeably sore on Monday morning," Moody said. "She's got a muscle tear across the chest but she x-rayed fine.
"We'll give her a week off before we reassess things after we have another look. If she doesn't come up we won't hesitate to send her to the paddock."
Black Caviar's future in balance
Matt Stewart
September 07, 2009 12:00am
BLACK Caviar's immediate future will be determined in the next 48 hours, with trainer Peter Moody bracing himself and calling in the vets.
Moody fears Black Caviar may have torn a back or neck muscle in her clumsy exit from the gates in Saturday's Danehill Stakes at Flemington.
She stretched her unbeaten record to four in a remarkably tough win in the 1200m sprint after almost going down on her nose at the start.
It was her fourth poor get-away in an unbeaten career.
While the filly appeared to recover without noticeable soreness, she was given anti-inflammatory drugs yesterday and will be inspected today by the stable vet and chiropractor.
"It will be interesting to see how she trots up tomorrow and Tuesday," Moody said yesterday.
"I won't be surprised at all if she pulls up with some sort of strain.
"She's done it before. If that's so, there's no point wondering what races to set her for, because with a filly as valuable as her, there might not be any point going on (this spring) if there's a problem."
If Black Caviar is given the all-clear today, Moody said he had three options -- the Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) or the Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m), both at Caulfield on September 19, or the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 25.
Moody said Black Caviar's trait of dwelling at the start - she actually pre-empted it in the Danehill - was a major concern.
"It will probably cost her a Group 1 one day," he said.
"You could imagine drawing gate one in a Manikato and botching the start against those experienced older horses who jump straight into the bridle."
He said there was little he could do behind the scenes to mend Black Caviar's barrier manners.
"You drive them mad putting them through the barriers 100 times," Moody said.
"It's a problem that will probably sort itself out with time, but it is a problem."