If Flemington is the spiritual home of Australian racing, then its straight-six is the ultimate test for our sprinters.

Champions the calibre of Vain, Manikato, Placid Ark, Schillaci and Takeover Target have all stamped their authority down the famous straight course and they were joined by Melbourne’s modern-day champion Black Caviar yesterday.

Black Caviar produced a world-class performance winning the G1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) by four lengths on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.  She clocked a race record 1.07.96s and appeared to have another couple of lengths in reserve on the line.

“Awesome.  Amazing,” trainer Peter Moody beamed.  “That would make the hair stand up on the back of anyone’s neck.”

Black Caviar (4m Bel Esprit – Helsinge by Desert Sun) will be ranked the world’s highest rating sprinter when the 2010 figures are released in January.  The Patinack runaway puts her ahead of fellow Victorian bred sprinters Sacred Kingdom and Starspangledbanner.

The anticipated match race between Black Caviar and Hay List failed to eventuate.  Something was obviously amiss with the former Perth star as he faded to finish 11 lengths behind the winner.  

Black Caviar cost $210,000 at the 2008 Melbourne Premier yearling sale.  The Patinack extended her unbeaten run to 10 from 10 since her debut at Flemington on April 18 last year.  Her prizemoney is now in excess of $1.24 million.

She is by Eliza Park sire Bel Esprit from an unraced half-sister to Moody’s G1 sprinter Magnus (Flying Spur) who is also based at Eliza Park.  Another half-brother Wilander (Exceed and Excel) was a G2 winner of the MRC Schillaci Stakes.

Second dam Scandinavia (Snippets) was a G2 winner of the QTC Cup and she was also G1 placed in the Newmarket and Salinger Stakes at Flemington.

Tony Santic’s Makybe draft for the 2011 Inglis Easter yearling sale includes a Casino Prince half brother to Black Caviar.  Their dam Helsinge foaled a Redoute’s Choice filly on September 29.

The Patinack Farm Classic is part of the Global Sprint Challenge and Black Caviar becomes the fourth Inglis graduate to win a leg of the series in the last 12 months.  She joins Sacred Kingdom (HK International Sprint), Starspangledbanner (Golden Jubilee & July Cup) and Ultra Fantasy (Japan Sprinter Stakes).

Black Caviar will now be spelled and set for a Group 1 preparation in the autumn in Australia.  “I’m not committing to an overseas campaign,” Moody said.  “The financial attraction of Dubai would probably outweigh Europe because she is a mare.  But we’ve just lost one great horse from Australia so we will probably keep her home.”