Futurity back on agenda

Black Caviar may yet set the record for 20 consecutive wins in Australia, perhaps as soon as Saturday. Less than 24 hours after taking the 1400m Futurity Stakes at Caulfield off the mare's schedule, trainer Peter Moody flagged the possibility that Black Caviar might still run in the group one race at the weekend. Moody changed his stance from his comments after Saturday's Lightning Stakes when the hulking mare made a remarkable recovery from her Australasian record-equalling victory at Flemington. He said the 5-year-old had never been more sound during a career in which she has not been pushed beyond five starts in any preparation. Black Caviar was nominated for the Futurity Stakes, with a final decision after Moody monitors her progress this week. "I looked at the clock after her Lightning win and thought, 'She's done enough', but as she has matured she has developed these unbelievable recuperative powers," he told the Herald Sun on Sunday. Victory in the A$400,000 Futurity would take Black Caviar past Desert Gold and Gloaming for the Australasian consecutive winning streak record and separate her from American mare Zenyatta, who won her first 19 starts. Moody said he would follow a programme mirroring Black Caviar's preparation for the Lightning. At the start of the week, the mare was led off a pony, then taken to a Mordialloc beach. The trainer also is considering a quick reconnaissance trip to Dubai this week to check the facilities at Meydan racecourse, should Black Caviar go there for the A$2 million Golden Shaheen (1200m) on the Tapeta artificial surface on March 31. If she does not run in the Futurity and goes to Dubai - the flight is scheduled on March 9 - it would rule out running again in Australia this season.