Black Caviar wins the William Reid Stakes Group 1 (1200) at Moonee Valley .
Black Caviar and Luke Nolen win the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley last night with minimum fuss. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
MOONEE Valley burst at the seams to farewell the immortal Black Caviar and she cantered off the local stage with a typically effortless victory in the William Reid Stakes.
The race itself amounted to little more than an exercise gallop for the seven-horse field but Black Caviar's Melbourne swansong was always about the event rather than the race, as it has been for most of her epic 24 straight wins.
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, NELLY
The packed house crowd of 25,000 burst into wild applause as Luke Nolen allowed Black Caviar to surge past stablemate Karuta Queen approaching the home turn.
GALLERY: THEY CAME IN THEIR THOUSANDS AND NELLY DIDN'T DISAPPOINT
Salmon and white streamers burst across the public lawn moments after Black Caviar crossed the line four lengths clear; a tickertape finale to a night of celebration never before seen on a Melbourne racetrack.
Trainer Peter Moody, paraded before the race like a rock star, said Black Caviar's impact on sport, let alone racing. had been "second to none".
"She put on a wonderful show," he said.
While the Black Caviar story is probably just two runs from reaching its end - one start in Sydney, another in Brisbane - Moody declared her at the peak of her powers.
"She's going super - it's scary how well she's going," he said.
Business as usual: Black Caviar and Luke Nolen get the job done. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
"Just the way she let down and quickened. What do you say. I'm lost for words."
Nolen said his associaton with Black Caviar "has been a wonderful ride the whole time".
He added: "It's amazing to be part of not just a wonderful racing story but a (wonderful) sporting story."
"Thank God she didn't let anyone down tonight."
Like Moody, Nolen said Black Caviar had never been in better shape.
"She felt amazing to me," he said, adding he gave Black Caviar a gentle tap with the whip turning for home "just to keep her balanced and happy and she took care of the rest".
The massive crowd gives Luke Nolen and Black Caviar a deserving applause after her magnificent win in the William Reid Stakes. Source: Getty Images
Moody said "you never say never" about Black Caviar racing again in Melbourne - a crack at a fourth straight Patinack Farm Classic in November would be the logical option, if any - but his strong sense last night was that she had run her last race in Melbourne.
Racegoers had not been put off by the dark skies threatening rain with many hoping the champion mare had the same attitude.
Carissa Willis, from Woodend, said she was seeing the superstar run for the first time.
"It's really exciting to be here and be able to see her race, especially considering it's the last time we'll probably get to see her here in Melbourne," she said.
She said she'll definitely have a "little flutter" with the bookmakers on the big race.
Trainer Peter Moody celebrates with the crowd after Black Caviar's 24th straight win. Source: Getty Images
Dressed as a horse and with a cape adorned in Black Caviar's signature coral with black spots colours, Andrew Sellers got into the spirit of the occasion.
The avid punter, 34, from Hawthorn, has attended 20 out of 23 of the mighty mare's races.
"I've followed her all the way through. I wasn't going to miss this one," he said.
"She is an amazing horse. I still remember her fourth start ... she scrambled out the barriers on her belly and she still got up and won."
There was a profit to be made for some. One Sportsbet punter plonked $500,000 on Black Caviar, for a $15,000 profit.
Bookmaker Anthony Doughty said the hype around the race was "fantastic".
"Financially, it wasn't the best night for bookmakers, but it's just great to be a part of this Australian racing milestone," he said.
Luke Nolen thanks the crowd as Black Caviar returns to scale after her emphatic victory. Source: Getty Images
He said one punter plunged $70,000 on the nose on Black Caviar at $1.03 odds moments before the race.
Another placed a $20,000 bet with him on the superstar mare.
"The surprising bet was $1000 on the 11-year-old Good Ba Ba," he said.
- with Rebekah Cavanagh
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