18 straight for Black Caviar

MELBOURNE, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Black Caviar easily won her 18th straight race Saturday, basically jogging home first in the C. F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield.

Still undefeated while racing exclusively in Australia, the 6-year-old Bel Esprit mare now is inching closer to the world stage with a trip to Dubai and then Royal Ascot on her agenda.

In the Orr, jockey Luke Nolan kept Black Caviar in fourth and in the clear until the field was halfway around the bend. Turned loose, she quickly picked off the leaders and opened a comfortable lead. She was almost eased at the end and won by 3 1/4 lengths over the 2011 Caulfield Cup winner, Southern Speed. Playing God was third.

Black Caviar was stretching out to 1,400 meters for the first time and finished in 1:25.14 over going rated "good to soft."

Trainer Peter Nolan said the race was so little effort for Black Caviar that she might race twice more in Australia before heading overseas – which would fit with his stated goal to run her record to 20 consecutive wins in front of her home country fans.

Moody also challenged the appearance that Black Caviar has feasted on easy pickings down under.

"What do you say? It's unbelievable," the trainer said after Saturday's win. "I know people doubt the opposition but they are good horses. There's a Caulfield Cup winner who looked outstanding three weeks ago. What she does to good horses is beyond belief."