Black Caviar 18-0 after winning first try at seven furlongs

Black Caviar’s unbeaten streak stands at 18 races after a shockingly easy win in Saturday’s Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield, Australia, the 6-year-old mare’s first career start at seven furlongs.

Having previously raced over five and six furlongs, Black Caviar handled the added distance without difficulty, stalking the pace for the first five furlongs, moving closer to the leaders with a quarter-mile remaining and taking the lead with about a furlong to go. Ridden by regular rider Luke Nolen, Black Caviar won by 3 1/4 lengths over Southern Speed, the winner of the prestigious Group 1 Caulfield Cup last October.

Black Caviar was sent off at 1-20 with bookmakers, with Southern Speed at 15-1. Playing God, a 60-1 chance, finished third in the field of nine. On the tote system, Black Caviar returned $2.08 for a $2 win bet.

An Australian-bred mare by Bel Espirit, Black Caviar is trained by Peter Moody, who may add a surprise race to her February schedule. Prior to the Orr Stakes, Moody had planned to start Black Caviar in the $535,000 Futurity Stakes over seven furlongs at Caulfield on Feb. 25. After the Orr, he mentioned the possibility of an appearance in the $802,000 Lightning Stakes over five furlongs at Flemington Racecourse on Feb. 18.

The long-term goal remains a start at the Royal Ascot meeting in England in July, with a possible start in the $2 million Golden Shaheen in Dubai on March 31.