When it comes to giving it away at the top level, timing is everything.
Champions deserve to go out as winners. But they don’t always get the chance.
Footballers want to finish with a premiership. Few do. Cricketers dream of a bagful of wickets or a dashing century. It rarely happens.
Of course, Warnie is the exception. He’s going to play forever. He’ll be the main man in Five/Five games in twenty years, rattling stumps. And the hair will still be perfect.
It’s different on the racetrack. Often, the stars of the show don’t get a say in calling it quits. Trainers and owners make the decision. Horses rarely get consulted.
Black Caviar’s time is almost up. The greatest mare you and I will ever see is just about ready for the good life. So the question is, when should she give it away?
Peter Moody insists his pride and joy WILL tell him. There’ll be signs. And he’ll be watching, and listening. He loves the animal. Would never think about making her have one run too many.
The owners have made a fortune from her 22 straight wins. They, too, have nothing left to gain. And an awful lot to lose.
The easy way out would be to pull the pin now. With a record that won’t be matched in our lifetime.
Fans will remember her final run, as one of her bravest. Out of sorts, she got home, on foreign soil. Just. In front of the Queen and some delirious Aussies.
They could send her off to make huge, expensive babies. And charge big dollars for the boys to get anywhere near the breeding barn.
Yep, it would be all so easy. Except for one thing. What if she has more left in the tank?
That’s the problem. The nagging suspicion, that it doesn’t have to be over just yet.
For all the glory of Royal Ascot, a hometown farewell must be mighty appealing. One final fling in Melbourne. With a country cheering.
Imagine the Spring Carnival this year, with Black Caviar involved. She’d run on Derby Day Saturday, and Flemington’s attendance record would be smashed.
The nation would come to a standstill on that afternoon, to farewell a champion. It might even end up bigger than the Cup itself.
Picture Luke Nolen bringing her back along the fence, with the crowd going wild. Moody might even shout the lot of them. XXXX Gold, of course.
Could it get any better? I doubt it. A sporting moment we would never forget.
One small thing though. She’d have to win. And therein lies the great trainer’s challenge.
He won’t risk her, regardless of how much we want to see such a finish. So he’ll be watching, and listening for those signs.
Maybe the great mare will get to decide her own fate after all.
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