Caviar not going to Goodwood

Black Caviar won't feature among the entries for the QIPCO Sussex Stakes when they are unveled on Tuesday, ending talk of her meeting Frankel there.

The sponsors had said they would increase the prize money of Goodwood's top race from £300,000 to £1 million if the pair, the world's two highest-rated horses and unbeaten in 31 outings between them, met in the race.

Moody Racing's Jeff O'Connor explained: "Moody Racing does not intend running Black Caviar at a mile in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes, Frankel or no Frankel, as we are looking at getting her back to Melbourne for racing later in the year if she comes through Ascot as well as she can.

"Therefore, we are not planning to nominate her for the QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Tuesday's nomination stage as we feel it would not be the right thing by the racing industry worldwide, giving false hope that the race may happen.

"We understand it would have been a great selling point for Glorious Goodwood and we appreciate the more than generous offer from QIPCO in getting the conditions of the race to where they are but we will have to decline on this occasion."

Black Caviar's British campaign needs to finish by mid-July, taking quarantine into account, if she is to return home in time to be prepared for the Spring Carnival in Melbourne.

Adam Waterworth, managing director of Goodwood Racecourse, commented: "We are obviously disappointed that Black Caviar will not be entered in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes but fully understand her connections' viewpoint.

"It was always going to be a long shot to have world's top two horses race against each other because of their different distance requirements but we wanted to make sure we did everything we could to facilitate such a contest.

"Therefore, we are very grateful to QIPCO for increasing the prize money so much if Black Caviar and Frankel had met.

"The QIPCO Sussex Stakes, of course, remains a very significant Group One contest and we look forward to this year's renewal, which may feature Frankel for a second year in succession. He would meet the current crop of three-year-old milers for the first time in the race."

Rod Street, chief executive officer of the British Champions Series and Racing for Change, pointed out that Britain is lucky to have Black Caviar racing here.

He said: "We cannot underestimate the efforts it took to entice Black Caviar's connections to travel across the globe to race in the UK in the first place. We should celebrate the fact that she is coming and adding another dimension to what could be the most memorable of Flat seasons.

"It's natural that racing fans wanted to see a clash between Black Caviar and Frankel and it had all the makings of something very special. Nonetheless, it was always going to be difficult to find the right conditions for a sprinter to meet a miler, who has learned to settle and is likely to step up to beyond a mile.

"From a RFC point of view, our glass is much more than half full. The two best horses in the world, unbeaten in 31 races between them, will be racing in the UK this summer over the distances at which they excel. Come and see them!"