Regarded as the world’s finest sprinter, Black Caviar remains undefeated in 19 races and is a sensation in the sport.
Though More Joyous is modest and unassuming, her authenticity and determination make her a natural winner.
Then there is Atlantic Jewel, remarkably gifted and yet to face any real challenge in six starts, poised to take the lead.
This remarkable trio of racing legends will be competing on Saturday, each a strong contender for yet another Group 1 victory.
It’s astonishing to have three exceptional female racehorses competing on the same day!
The modern era of Australian racing has been fortunate to witness several champion mares, with eight of the last 12 Horse of the Year honors awarded to female competitors – Sunline (2000-01-02), Makybe Diva (2005, 2006), Miss Andretti (2007), Typhoon Tracy (2010), and Black Caviar (2011).
With Black Caviar on track to secure her title again this season, that number rises to nine, eclipsing the accomplishments of her peers, Atlantic Jewel and More Joyous.
It’s challenging to remember a time when female competitors were this influential.
During World War II, two celebrated mares, Flight and Tranquil Star, each claimed two Cox Plates from 1942 to 1946, facing off in six races where Flight prevailed five times.
But has there ever been such an abundance of remarkable female racers coexisting in the sport?
“I have never seen three exceptional mares competing simultaneously,” remarked Ken Callander, a respected racing columnist for The Daily Telegraph.
“In the past, we’ve had many great mares like Sunline and Emancipation, but never before have we had three at once as we do with Black Caviar, Atlantic Jewel, and More Joyous.”
“I’m unsure why this phenomenon occurs. Mares seem to be treated well under the weight-for-age scale, and perhaps the 2kg advantage they enjoy could be adjusted to 1.5kg or even 1kg, yet it simply marks a unique time in racing history.”
While Callander has long considered Vain as the ultimate sprinter, he now acknowledges Black Caviar as his equal.
“Vain was the best horse I’ve ever witnessed, but Black Caviar is right up there with him,” he stated.
“Atlantic Jewel possesses the potential to reach similar heights, plus she is likely to excel over greater distances.
“Any other era would see More Joyous crowned as No.1; unfortunately, in this instance, she’s likely No.3.
“Despite her acclaim, I believe More Joyous remains a bit undervalued because she competes alongside Black Caviar and Atlantic Jewel.”
Ron Dufficy, a prominent figure in racing, noted the extraordinary opportunity fans have to witness three exceptional female athletes racing the same day.
“When trainers begin discussing horses at trackwork, it’s a sign that something extraordinary is about to unfold,” Dufficy commented.
“Every time Black Caviar appears on the training track, all eyes divert to her and everything else halts.
“Atlantic Jewel garners the same attention, as trainers recognize they are witnessing something unparalleled.
“While Black Caviar is in a league of her own, Atlantic Jewel executes sectionals akin to the great mare. What Atlantic Jewel showcased to win at Randwick two weeks ago was simply impressive.
“More Joyous is indeed a superb mare, but it’s unfortunate her era coincides with the other two. While she remains a champion in her right, the other two can only be described as extraordinary!”
The unbackable favorite, Black Caviar, at $1.04, is set to win the $400,000 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday, solidifying her status as an all-time legend. Unless faced with misfortune or unexpected events, Black Caviar should only need to perform a routine gallop to achieve her 20th consecutive victory, which will mark her 10th at the Group 1 level.
Acknowledged globally as the premier sprinter, she holds a Timeform rating of 136, placing her equal third among Australian sprinters alongside Vain, trailing only Tulloch (138) and Kingston Town (137).
According to ratings guru Gary Crispe, Black Caviar’s TimeformThe figure also positions her as the highest-rated filly or mare in Timeform history, tied with Habibti, the outstanding British sprinter from the 1980s, and Allez France, the formidable French mare from the 1970s.
It’s hard to believe that Black Caviar, now a nearly six-year-old, could further enhance her remarkable achievements thus far – a notion trainer Peter Moody touched upon during a press event at his Caulfield stables earlier this week.
“I don’t see any indication of her descending from the peak,” Moody remarked. “Will she improve? I’m not sure. She seems to be performing as well as she ever has.”
“To propose any improvement would be rather presumptuous. My consistent belief has been that her five-year-old season would mark her peak performance, and we’re two-thirds through that; she’s doing quite well.”
Crispe acknowledged that Black Caviar might not elevate her impressive Timeform rating of 136 any higher.
“Black Caviar’s form is fully revealed,” Crispe explained.
“With Timeform’s history extending back to the late 1940s, she currently shares the title of top-rated filly or mare, so I don’t see much potential for her rating to rise.”
More Joyous is also on the brink of being six years old, yet she achieved a career-best performance last week, clinching her seventh Group 1 victory in the Doncaster Mile, pushing her Timeform rating to 128, which places her fourth among Australasian fillies and mares, behind Black Caviar (136), Sunline (129), and Makybe Diva (129).
“Her victorious 128 Timeform rating in the Doncaster was merely a pound short of the 129 posted by Sunline, who won that race in 2002,” Crispe noted.
“Globally, More Joyous, now rated at 128, ranks favorably against notable European mares such as Goldkova (14 Group 1 wins, Timeform rated 129), Snow Fairy at 128, and Immortal Verse at 126.”
More Joyous is aiming to extend her brilliance to 2000m, facing a strong competition including Manighar and Americain in the Group 1 $500,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick this Saturday.
At Randwick, Atlantic Jewel will encounter her first weight-for-age trial when participating in the Group 1 $400,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m).
As a three-year-old filly, Atlantic Jewel has only raced six times, claiming her sole Group 1 win in the Thousand Guineas. However, her evident talent and dazzling performances have already garnered her a Timeform rating of 128, positioning her alongside More Joyous.
Crispe remarked that Atlantic Jewel achieved superior ratings as a three-year-old filly compared to what Black Caviar and More Joyous did at the same stage in their careers.
“Atlantic Jewel received a Timeform rating of 128 following her stunning victory in the Wakeful Stakes, which she won by seven lengths while easing up towards the finish,” Crispe shared.
“At the end of her three-year-old season, Black Caviar had raced only five times, securing two listed races and two Group 2 events, concluding that season with a Timeform rating of 122.”
“The legendary Sunline recorded 11 wins from 13 starts as a three-year-old, including two Group 1 victories, ending with a Timeform rating of 125, whereas More Joyous has six wins from nine outings, including one Group 1 win and a rating of 120.”
Atlantic Jewel’s victory in the Sapphire Stakes ignited discussions on her potential, raising the possibility of her being a serious competitor to Black Caviar.
Although Black Caviar, More Joyous, and Atlantic Jewel have yet to encounter one another, the speculation around the outcome of such a race persists.
Using his IWS computer ratings system, form expert Dominic Beirne posited a race over 1400m at weight-for-age among the three champions, predicting Black Caviar would prevail.
“Black Caviar edges out Atlantic Jewel by 1.4 lengths, with More Joyous another 1.6 lengths behind in third,” Beirne commented.
Crispe advanced the scenario further, orchestrating a hypothetical race among the esteemed sprinting females over 1400m at weight-for-age, including Sunline, Dual Choice, Maybe Mahal, Miss Andretti, and Emancipation. The Timeform technology once again confirmed Black Caviar as the victor.
“Black Caviar triumphed over Atlantic Jewel by 1.3 lengths,” Crispe stated.
“Dual Choice and Sunline finished equally for third, trailing by a length, just ahead of More Joyous, with Maybe Mahal, Miss Andretti, and Emancipation following.”
by Buford Balony
