Australia: Black Caviar has chance to make it 25 straight at Randwick

Black Caviar can extend her unbeaten streak to 25 races in Saturday’s Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes at Randwick Racecourse in Australia, a race with a post time that may test the dedication of her American racing fans.

The $1,005,000 Smith Stakes has a post time in Australia of Saturday at 5:10 p.m., which is Saturday at 3:10 a.m. Eastern and 12:10 a.m. Pacific. It may be worth staying up for.

Black Caviar, the two-time Australian Horse of the Year, is the main draw on the nine-race Randwick program, and is entered in the day’s final race. She would be a prohibitive favorite to win her third start of 2013, but there is some doubt whether she will run.

Rain fell earlier in the week in the Sydney area, where Randwick is located, but dry weather was forecast leading up to Saturday.

Wednesday, trainer Peter Moody said that Black Caviar was not a certain runner in the Smith Stakes, which is run over about six furlongs. He indicated that Black Caviar would be shipped to Randwick, and that a decision on her participation could be made as late as the morning of the race. He expressed further concern that eight turf races on a course that sustained rain would leave the surface in less than ideal condition by the Smith Stakes.

Black Caviar drew the rail in a field of 11. Black Caviar has won twice this year, both in Group 1 races – the Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Feb. 16 and the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on March 22.

There are two other 2013 Group 1 winners in the Smith field – Hay List, who won the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in January, and Bel Sprinter, who won the Galaxy Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on March 30.

The Smith Stakes is part of the Breeders’ Cup’s Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth to the winner for the BC Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in November. There has been no indication from Black Caviar’s owners or Moody that a Breeders’ Cup start would be considered if she were to win the Smith Stakes.

The Smith Stakes is not the richest race on the Randwick program. The Group 1 Australian Derby is run over about 1 1/2 miles on turf and is worth $1,575,000. It’s a Dundeel, the winner of two Group 1 races in March, will be a heavy favorite in a field of 10.