BLACK Caviar might be rated a $1.22 chance, but she faces an unknown factor at her Sydney debut, and history suggests that even superstars can struggle the first time they race the opposite way for the first time, reports The Age.It states: Jockey Craig Newitt thought it was a matter of how far when Miss Andretti was loaded into the gates for the 2007 Hong Kong Sprint. A proven speedster with five group 1 victories, Newitt was preparing for another blistering performance, but from the time the g
BLACK Caviar might be rated a $1.22 chance, but she faces an unknown factor at her Sydney debut, and history suggests that even superstars can struggle the first time they race the opposite way for the first time, reports The Age.
It states: Jockey Craig Newitt thought it was a matter of how far when Miss Andretti was loaded into the gates for the 2007 Hong Kong Sprint. A proven speedster with five group 1 victories, Newitt was preparing for another blistering performance, but from the time the gates opened the jockey knew he was in trouble.
Racing clockwise for the first time, Miss Andretti began leading with her wrong leg and when pressured, she lost her action and ultimately the race. She finished 10th of 13 - the worst run of her glittering career. Miss Andretti is the most recent female sprinting horse of the year - winning that title in 2006-07 - but even though few would rank her anywhere near modern-day champion Black Caviar, there are lessons to be learnt from that day at Sha Tin.
Firstly, no horse is unbeatable, and secondly, a change of racing direction can be an issue for a horse in a high-pressure group 1 race.