THE reaction of the connections of the winner Imperatriz and the runner-up Private Eye encapsulated what the result meant to them after their fantastic dual down the straight over 1000 metres in the Black Caviar Lightning.
Imperatriz’s connections celebrated as if they had just won their first group 1 race with her and not her ninth in a manner which suggested they may have harboured some doubts as to whether she could win after her lacklustre trial.
On the flipside Private Eye’s trainer Joe Pride looked devastated by the result. He knew his sprinter Private Eye had been gallant and great in his effort but things didn’t pan out for him.
The key to the race was Opie Bosson’s ride on Imperatriz not over doing it early and then asking her for a final surge.
On the other hand Blake Shinn couldn’t do a thing about landing in the lead with Private Eye as he jumped too well.
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While Shinn wasn’t where he wanted to be Bosson was and that was the difference.
Pride lamented that Private Eye didn’t have a bunny to chase and for a Black Caviar Lightning they hadn’t gone quickly.
It was a magnificent race with two superb sprinters matching motors.
Whether they meet again in the Newmarket Handicap is problematic as connections of both horses might choose to bypass a handicap where their horses have to carry big weights.
