Easy again for Black Caviar

Predictable it might have been but there could be no argument about Black Caviar's position as a genuine Australian icon after her unbeaten streak stretched to 16 at Flemington on Saturday.

The world's top-rated sprinter is such an attraction she pulled thousands of extra spectators through the gates on the final afternoon of the Spring Carnival, and salmon and black spotted flags in the colours of her silks covered the racecourse's rose-bordered lawns.

As virtually every potential domestic rival has been dispatched without the mare needing to break sweat, trainer Peter Moody now has to provide her with different challenges, starting off with a step up to seven furlongs and then to bring her to Europe, almost certainly for the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Ben Melham, who rode Black Caviar earlier in her career, described her this week as "just like a big rocking horse, she never comes off the bridle", and her regular partner Luke Nolen would hardly disagree.

Her seventh Group One victory, over half a dozen rivals in the Patinack Farm Classic, was considered to be such a formality that the local tote paid out no dividend - which can be announced when runners are shorter than 1-20.

Buffering offered token resistance, leading for the first four and a half furlongs, but was unable to keep up with Black Caviar's effortless rolling stride and it is safe to say she could have won by far further than the official two and three-quarter lengths if Nolen had decided to wake her up.

"She got the job done and it's a relief to see her do it again," said Moody.

"She can only beat what's there and they are all Group horses behind her but once again, she's toyed with them.

"She's one hell of a horse. I'm just grateful to be a small part of it."

Moody has already announced the five-year-old's likely schedule, with the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot racecourse in Perth on November 19 the next date in the diary.

"I'd like to go for it, as long as the horse is right," he added.

"It's been a hot day and so we'll get her home and see how she pulls up, otherwise she'll have a break. The plane goes on Tuesday so we've got 48 hours to look at her."

Moody is having to get accustomed to the relentless public and media interest in the powerfully-built daughter of Bel Esprit, who did not turn a hair as cameras followed her for several hours before her performance.

Racing fanatics are desperate for what would be a clash of the ages between Black Caviar and Frankel and there was even frivolous talk of a match race being arranged.

But Sir Henry Cecil is likely to try Frankel over longer distances and Moody will not contemplate Black Caviar running a mile under British conditions, so it appears almost inconceivable.

Looking further ahead, Moody added: "Every option is open but the two definite races are the Orr and the Futurity back in Melbourne in February.

"I think she'll improve when she goes over seven, I really do. I'm dying to try her over a mile, but I'd want to do that over a flat track out here rather than anywhere else.

"So if she doesn't stay seven here, she won't be able to do six over in the Golden Jubilee. The only double I'd like to do over in England would be the July Cup and Golden Jubilee.

"Trainers like Joe Janiak (Takeover Target) have brought horses over to win your races and they put her on a pedestal over those. I think that says everything."