Peter Moody and the record breaking Black Caviar. Picture: Andrew Tauber Source: Herald Sun
T he "black horse" was incomparable. There would never be another like him.
At least this is what Malcolm Johnston has always believed. He thought he would go to his grave without ever seeing a racehorse as good as Kingston Town - until now.
Johnston, who rode Kingston Town for much of the champion's celebrated career, has conceded the modern-day phenomenon Black Caviar is his equal.
"I had the ride of my life with Kingston Town and I never thought I would ever see another horse in the same class," Johnston said. "There have been a lot of great horses and a few champions between Kingston Town and Black Caviar but I can honestly say she is the only horse that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
"This mare goes to Kingston Town's level, without any doubt."
Johnston rode the legendary Kingston Town in 33 races for 25 wins and their partnership is one of the most famous in Australian racing history.
Kingston Town won a record 14 Group 1 races - the most by any racehorse since the Group and Listed race classification system was introduced in 1979.
But at Moonee Valley tonight, Black Caviar will equal Kingston Town's record of Group 1 wins if she takes out the $400,000 William Reid Stakes (1200m).
"I never thought I'd live to see the day when another horse won 14 Group 1 races but I feel proud to be a witness to what Black Caviar has done," Johnston said.
"Records are made to be broken and I won't be disappointed in any way if Black Caviar equals and then breaks The King's Group 1 record because I can think of no better horse to do it than this mare - she deserves it."
Bernborough after winning the 1946 Newmarket Handicap.
Black Caviar, the closest racing has ever had to a sure thing, is actually poised to catch two racing legends tonight.
The mighty mare is about to equal the revered big-race records of Hall of Famers Kingston Town and Bernborough. Kingston Town's 14 majors record has remained unmatched for more than 30 years while Bernborough's feat of winning seven consecutive Group 1 races has stood since 1946.
Black Caviar can equal those records with a win in the William Reid Stakes. She seems to be rewriting racing history with every start now. Her opponents can't keep up with the world's best sprinter and trainer Peter Moody is losing touch, too.
"Every run there is a new record of sorts," Moody said. "I don't take a lot of notice until after a race but if she breaks some more, it's just another feather in her cap."
Kingston Town has the official record for most Group 1 wins with 14 from Black Caviar, Tie The Knot and Sunline on 13 each.
Arguably the most versatile champion to race here in the past four decades, Kingston Town had explosive acceleration and the rare ability to sprint and stay, which helped him to win an unprecedented hat-trick of Cox Plates (1980-81-82) and feature races from 1200m to 3200m - sometimes in one preparation.
Johnston said Kingston Town's ability to race at the top level over all distances set him apart from other great gallopers but he defended Black Caviar's record of never having raced beyond 1400m.
Just like Usain Bolt will never run a marathon because of his magnificent sprinting ability - he's the only person to win the 100m-200m double in successive Olympics (2008-2012) - Black Caviar has extraordinary, natural speed so Moody has concentrated on exploiting her greatest asset.
Even criticism that Black Caviar often races inferior opposition should not be held against her, according to Johnston.
Kingston Town, ridden by jockey Malcolm Johnston, winning 1980 Sydney Cup at Randwick.
"It's not Black Caviar's fault that she's so bloody fast and ... so good others don't want to take her on," Johnston said. "I think any criticism of her and the standard of opposition she has beaten is bullshit."She's beaten the best we have to offer for four years now, she even won in England despite being injured and racing nowhere near her best.
"This mare donkey licks the best sprinters we have, and our sprinters are world class. Look at Hay List. In any other era he'd be recognised as a superstar and he is a terrific horse but he's run second to Black Caviar four times - she beats him comfortably every time."
B lack Caviar goes into the William Reid after successive Group 1 wins in the Orr Stakes, Lightning Stakes, Sangster Stakes, The Goodwood, Diamond Jubilee Stakes and then her third successive Lightning Stakes at Flemington last month. In the history of Australian racing, it is acknowledged only Bernborough has a longer major race winning streak, recording seven successive wins in the equivalent of Group 1 races in 1946.
His sequence began with a win in the Futurity Stakes under a crushing 64.5kg before his amazing Newmarket Handicap success carrying a hefty 63kg.
Bernborough then added the Rawson (now Ranvet) Stakes, Chipping Norton Stakes and All Aged Stakes in quick succession before winning the Doomben 10,000 under 65.5kg.
He saved the best for last, shouldering an incredible 68.5kg to win the Doomben Cup.
When Bernborough returned from his winter spell, he won the Warwick Stakes, Chelmsford Stakes, Hill Stakes and Melbourne Stakes, each the equivalent of Group 2 races today, before notching his 15th win in succession taking the Caulfield Stakes.
The late Warwick Hobson wrote in his acclaimed book Racing's All-Time Greats that Bernborough's style of racing - to drop out and fly home - had race crowds in constant uproar.
"Impatiently, the crowd would urge (Athol) Mulley to make his move. Patiently, the jockey bided his time and then Bernborough came storming home," Hobson wrote. "There were times when it seemed that Bernborough would never get there - but he did.
"Faith in Bernborough's ability to win was unshakeable."
Bernborough's winning run ended in sensational circumstances in the 1946 Caulfield Cup.
Burdened with a staggering 10st 10lb (68kg), Bernborough was sent out a hot 7/4 favourite. Despite his massive handicap, Bernborough might have won but for striking severe interference at vital stages.
Trainer Harry Plant believed Mulley pulled the horse up - which the jockey vigorously denied to the day he died - and the two never spoke again. Mulley was sacked from Bernborough next start, replaced by Billy Briscoe.
In a sad end to Bernborough's career, the horse cracked a sesamoid bone on the home turn in the Mackinnon Stakes and did not complete the course. Bernborough had run his last race.
Barring such a terrible fate, Black Caviar should win again tonight and then Sydney race fans get to see the great mare, probably for the last time, in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 13.
Black Caviar has already been inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Bernborough and Kingston Town.
But even the long-standing records of the "Toowoomba Tornado" or "The King" are no longer safe with Black Caviar racing.
* * *
THE problem with comparing the Group 1 records of champions who raced prior to 1979 is that many races once considered premier events have been deleted from the turf calendar while others have lost their importance in the modern era.
Phar Lap, arguably the greatest of them all, won 37 races but by today's standards, he is credited with 10 Group 1 wins only.
The respected Bloodhorse Review magazine published a series of articles on this subject a few years ago and using a detailed analysis of races to include what was described as "missing Group 1 events" like the Randwick Plate, AJC Plate, VRC Champion Stakes, Cumberland Stakes and VRC All Aged Stakes, Phar Lap and Tulloch were retrospectively allocated 27 major race wins to lead the Group 1 standings with Carbine next on 25.
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