Saturday’s Group 1 Darley Classic meeting revived memories of Victorian-bred world-champion Black Caviar so it was appropriate her close relation Magnus sired Malaguerra to win the final race at Flemington.

The wonder mare defeated Star Witness by 4 lengths in the 2010 Darley Classic and Buffering by 3 lengths in 2011.

Magnus stands at Eliza Park International and the Kerrie nursery has enjoyed a close association with Black Caviar and her family on many levels for many years.

How close?  Let us take you back to the late 1990s, shortly after Eliza Park International commenced operations at its Victorian complex, under the former ownership of Eliza Park.

In partnership with major breeder Robert Crabtree, Eliza Park was racing a multiple Group winning mare by the name of Scandinavia.

Once Scandinavia had retired Crabtree and EPI jointly sent the mare to Danehill, Eliza Park’s foundation stallion Desert Sun and Flying Spur for her first three seasons at stud, producing Danavia, Helsinge and Magnus respectively.

Danavia failed to score in a short racing career, but has since become a black type producer; Helsinge was unraced; and Magnus charged on to Group I sprinting success and a flourishing career in the stallion barn.

Helsinge was sold as a yearling for $305,000 by Eliza Park at the 2003 Gold Coast Magic Millions, but two years later she turned up – unraced – in the supplementary section of the Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale catalogue where she was knocked down to agent Peter Ford on behalf of Gilgai Farm owner Rick Jamieson for $115,000.

Eliza Park had been interested in getting her back and was one of the under-bidders, but received some consolation when Jamieson decided to send Helsinge to EPI to be covered by Bel Esprit.

A multiple Group I winning sprinter, Bel Esprit was, not surprisingly, a very popular acquisition for Victoria and Jamieson considered him a good fit for his mare.

The result? Black Caviar!