Australia’s racing focus turns to the Sunshine State of Queensland this Saturday for the running of the $400,000 Group 1 BTC Cup over 1200 metres to be run under Weight for Age conditions.
Arguably two of Australia’s most publicly supported horses, Black Caviar and Hay List line up in what will be their fourth meeting against each other, where the mighty Victorian mare holds a three love advantage over her hulking rival.
Currently the world’s highest rated sprinter, Black Caviar will be resuming off a short five week let up after another dominating display in winning the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes over 1200 metres at Randwick over her main rival Hay List by some two and three quarter lengths. On that occasion John McNair’s charge gave an almighty sight up the famous Randwick rise, when he led Black Caviar by four lengths and for a fleeting second looked a real chance of upstaging the great mare. Since that run Hay List scored an impressive all the way win in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes over 1400 metres to frank the form.
Black Caviar will be looking for her thirteenth consecutive win in the BTC Cup and worked strongly on the Doomben course proper on Tuesday morning with regular race rider Luke Nolen making a special trip to partner the daughter of Bel Esprit in her second look at the track. The pairing have drawn perfectly in barrier four for the event and with Hay List drawn in barrier six, a tantalising battle of tactics looms between Nolen and triple Melbourne Cup winning jockey Glen Boss in the early stages of the first Group 1 of this year’s Brisbane Winter Carnival.
There is no doubting Hay List’s quality, and outside of Black Caviar’s era, the son of Statue of Liberty would surely be a multiple Group 1 winning sprinter. With the respective barrier draws of the two top fancies the question must be posed, can Hay List sit outside of Black Caviar and beat her? In short no, therefore it appears Glen Boss’ only option from barrier rise is to chase his mount along to cross the champion mare and put Hay List across on to the fence. This will enable Black Caviar the opportunity to take a sit on his hind quarters and also allow up and coming Queensland star Buffering the chance to track these two sprinting specimens in the run to the first turn. But I think that is as close as Buffering will get.
Let’s be frank, the only chance of Hay List beating Black Caviar is if the former Sandgroper is in front of the Peter Moody trained mare when the runners turn for the judge.
Do the two champions declare each other on at the six hundred metre mark and attempt to break the land speed record on the tight turning circle at Doomben, or does Glen Boss cuddle the Gosford galloper until the hometurn and with the assistance of the Doomben camber produce a turn of speed that breaks the great mare’s heart? It’s hard to forget the lead that Hay List established up the Randwick rise in the TJ Smith, but then again its hard to forget the sight of Black Caviar gobbling him up inside the furlong pole and careering away to win by nearly three lengths.
The build up the BTC Cup is nothing short of sensational, and all is in readiness for what promises to be a once in a lifetime horse racing clash. With the race set to be run under sunny Brisbane skies and an even track with the sting just out of the surface, Doomben will be busting at the seams with punters and patrons alike, daring to catch a glimpse at what could be a bigger event then Gunsynd’s farewell tour of Brisbane at the Labour Day Cup meeting way back in 1973.
