Black Caviar is aiming to win her 12th race in a row today at Royal Randwick

The four-year-old superstar has firmed into favouritism even further in the TJ Smith betting markets, after opening at $1.28 originally at Luxbet.

Black Caviar has since shortened to odds of $1.20 and is the overwhelming favourite to win the $1 million race.

Sportingbet Australia’s CEO, Michael Sullivan, has told of the massive money rolling in for Black Caviar.

“More than 95 percent of all bets taken so far have been on Black Caviar,” Mr Sullivan said.

“We saw some huge bets on the likes of Lonhro and Makybe Diva but Black Caviar takes things to a whole new level,” said Sullivan.

Punters are willing to place big bets on Black Caviar, with the belief that she is unbeatable.

“Punters feel she is unbeatable and see their bets as a term deposit which has terms of just over a minute instead of months or years,” Mr Sullivan said.

“Something massive would have to go wrong to not see her in the winner’s circle yet again.”

The closest horse to Black Caviar in the betting markets is currently Hay List, who is paying odds of $14.

Hay List, who won his last start in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Warwick Farm, has been unable to upstage Black Caviar in their last two meetings.

The five-year-old gelding has an impressive win record, winning 13 of his 17 race starts during his career.

The Statue Of Liberty gelding is one of eight Group 1 winners in the 2011 TJ Smith Stakes field.

Shoot Out and Crystal Lily are currently tied for third favouritism in the 2011 TJ Smith Stakes betting.

Crystal Lily has finished second to the mighty Black Caviar in her last two starts, and has won four of her 12 career races.

Shoot Out will be first-up in today’s TJ Smith Stakes after a five month spell.

The four-year-old High Chaparral gelding will be hoping to emulate his successful spring preparation last year, which saw him win or place in five Group races.

The 2011 TJ Smith Stakes is due to run as Race 5 today at Randwick Racecourse, and is scheduled to jump at 2.20pm (AEST).

Photo courtesy (c) Taron Clarke Photography

As expected, Black Caviar is tipped to win the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes.

According to Sportingbet Australia CEO, Michael Sullivan, everybody is jumping aboard the Black Caviar bandwagon, with punters refusing to put their money on anything else.

“We took a bet of $150,000 almost instantly and since then we have taken further bets of $100,000, $44,000 and $22,000,” Sullivan said.

“Punters won’t hear of her getting beaten and the likes of Hay List and Crystal Lily can’t find a supporter to have more than $100 on them.”

Black Caviar drew well in the barrier draw, and will jump from gate five in Saturday’s race.

The Bel Esprit racing superstar will be ridden by her usual jockey, Luke Nolen, and will carry the set 56.5 kilogram weight for four-year-olds.

Hay List, who is often labelled as the “best of the rest”, is tipped to finish in second position in the 2011 TJ Smith Stakes.

The five-year-old Statue Of Liberty gelding is fresh off a first place finish in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Warwick Farm on March 27, 2011.

Hay List has drawn barrier 10 for the 2011 TJ Smith Stakes and will be ridden by jockey Glyn Schofield.

Shoot Out, who is tipped to finish in third, has drawn well in barrier two and will be ridden by jockey Corey Brown.

Randwick Race 5 Tips – Darley TJ Smith Stakes (1200m)

Favourite Tip: #7 Black Caviar

Best Place Picks: #1 Hay List and #2 Shoot Out

The Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes will feature superstar mare Black Caviar as she attempts to win her 12^th unbeaten race in a row.

Black Caviar is the unrequited star of this Saturday’s racing at Randwick, on a day where the $150^th running of the AJC Australian Derby will take place.

The Bel Esprit mare has drawn well in the barrier draw, and will jump from gate five in the 1,200 metre race.

Black Caviar will be ridden by her regular winning jockey, Luke Nolen, and will be hoping she can nab her fifth Group 1 title in a row.

Also included in the 2011 TJ Smith Stakes final field is Grahame Begg’s All Silent.

The seven-year-old gelding will be first-up in the TJ Smith Stakes after two barrier trials.

The Belong To Me gelding has won eight of his 25 career starts, including multiple Group races.

Grahame Begg is pleased with All Silent’s current form, but will need for a dry track if they have any hope of upstaging Black Caviar.

”I don’t know if we can beat the super mare but he is back to his best,” Begg said.

”We know he needs a good track to show his best, so we don’t want the rain.”

All Silent has drawn the widest barrier of 11 for the 2011 TJ Smith Stakes and will be ridden by jockey Brenton Avdulla.

Hay List is amongst the field attempting to dethrone Black Caviar, with the Statue Of Liberty gelding fresh off a win in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Warwick Farm on March 27, 2011.

The five-year-old will be hoping it’s a case of third time lucky when he takes to the track against Black Caviar on Saturday, having been beaten by the talented mare on their previous two meetings.

Hay List will be ridden by jockey Glyn Schofield in the 2011 TJ Smith Stakes and will jump from barrier 10.

The 2011 TJ Smith Stakes will run as Race 5 at Randwick Racecourse this Saturday and is due to jump at 2.20pm (AEST).

2011 TJ Smith Stakes Final Field

The $1 million TJ Smith Stakes will run as part of Randwick Racecourse’s nine-card program this Saturday April 9, 2011.

The Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes will be run over 1,200 metres and under standard weight-for-age conditions.

There have been 14 nominations for the 18 horse capacity final field, with many trainers choosing once again to steer clear of the super mare; Black Caviar.

Peter Moody feels that Black Caviar is primed to make it 12 unbeaten wins in this Saturday’s TJ Smith Stakes after a seamless recovery from her last start in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes.

“She had an easier time of it in the William Reid than she did in the Newmarket and she came through it so much better,” Moody said.

Peter Moody is confident that the Sydney way of going won’t pose any problems for his superstar.

“Two or three times a week they go that way (Sydney) in their pace work. It is pretty much second nature to my horses,” he said.

“I’ve never used that as an excuse for my horses when they race in Sydney. The only time I had any concern was with Typhoon Tracy in the Coolmore and she was still able to win.”

The Bel Esprit mare has accrued over $2.5 million in prize money during 12-start career.

Among the nominations for the 2011 T.J. Smith Stakes is John McNair’s talented gelding Hay List.

The Statue of Liberty gelding, who has finished behind Black Caviar on two occasions, will attempt to post an upset victory in Saturday’s race against his arch rival.

Hay List has a stellar record that has seen him win 13 of his 17 starts, with the five-year-old most recently winning the Group 2 Challenge Stakes ahead of Keen Commander and Solar Charged last start.

Also included in the 2011 TJ Smith Stakes nominations is John Wallace’s Shoot Out.

Shoot Out will be first-up in the 2011 TJ Smith Stakes, after a previous preparation that saw him win two Group races and place in another three.

Despite the talent Shoot Out possesses, trainer John Wallace is realistic about his horse’s chances of upstaging Black Caviar.

“She (Black Caviar) is a superstar. I’ve never seen a horse cantering when good horses that can gallop are off the bit. She’s an amazing athlete,” Wallace said.

“(Shoot Out) spelled well and he trialled good, but he won’t be able to beat that mare.”

Crystal Lily, Eagle Falls and Swift Alliance also feature in the 2011 TJ Smith Stakes nominations.

2011 TJ Smith Stakes Nominations