Australia: Black Caviar extends streak to 16 in Patinack Farm Classic

Black Caviar, Australia’s reigning Horse of the Year, extended her unbeaten streak to 16 races with an easy win in the $1.03 million Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday.

Ridden by a confident Luke Nolen, Black Caviar stalked pacesetter Buffering for the first half of the Group 1 race over about six furlongs, took the lead in the final quarter-mile, and won without significant urging by 2 3/4 lengths. Black Caviar was sent off at odds of 1-25.

Buffering, who was 40-1, held second, finishing a length in front of Mid Summer Music. Scenic Blast, stakes placed in 2010 during a California campaign, finished fifth in the field of seven.

Black Caviar, an Australian-bred mare by Bel Espirit trained by Peter Moody, is expected to have one more start this calendar year, in the $502,000 Winterbottom Stakes over about six furlongs on Nov. 19. Moody has mentioned starting the 5-year-old Black Caviar in races up to a mile in early 2012, before embarking on a European campaign focusing on the Royal Ascot meeting in England.

On the same Flemington program Saturday, Albert the Fat, a 16-1 chance, pulled an upset in the $1.03 million Emirates Classic over about a mile, holding off King’s Rose, who was ridden by Nolen for Moody.

The Group 1 Emirates Classic was Albert the Fat’s second win at that level. A 7-year-old Australian-bred gelding by Magic Albert, Albert the Fat won the Group 1 BTC Cup in May 2010.