INTERSTATE RIVALRY HOTS UP HEADING INTO THE SPRING

UNBEATEN Melbourne filly BLACK CAVIAR and the promising Sydneysider SWIFT ALLIANCE are set to clash in the G1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley next month after impressive wins on Saturday.

Black Caviar remains unbeaten after three starts following her first-up win in the Arrow Training Services Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Jockey Luke Nolen was kind to the $1.20 favorite in her win over Miraculous Miss, $31.

Caulfield trainer Peter Moody will give Black Caviar a crack at the Manikato Stakes after the unbeaten filly won the Arrow Training Services Stakes, 1200m, in a canter.

Black Caviar was away fairly from the gates and cruised along outside the early leader, Noesis, before taking control of the race on the home turn and easily opening up a 3-3/4 length margin on the line.

“I've been fortunate enough at home that I haven’t had one fast enough to test her and hopefully we're got to wait a while for it to happen on the racetrack,” he said.

Moody has yet to decide where to head next with Black Caviar but the $250,000 G2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington on September 5 looms as a springboard to the $500,000 Manikato under lights at Moonee Valley on September 25.

“We'll go home and think about that,” Moody said. “The reason for having her here at the Valley was in the back of my mind the possibility of having a crack in the Manikato. Eventually the Thousand Guineas is our aim.”

When asked to compare the ability of Black Caviar with other horses he has been associated with, Moody drew comparisons with multiple Group 1 winner, General Nediym.

“In terms of raw ability, I've only been involved with one similar and that’s General Nediym when I worked with Bill Mitchell. She's got a long way to go but she’s got a lot of natural talent.”

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Swift Alliance showed he is a sprinter with Group 1 potential after he easily won the $100,000 Listed Show County Quality, 1200m, at Randwick on Saturday.

Swift Alliance, $2.7fav, beaten only once in six starts, proved too strong beating Bryannbo’s Gift, $7.5 and Albert The Fat, $3.80.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse could not have been more impressed. “He is a lovely horse. He will be set for the Manikato now and he will be the first Don Eduardo to fly the flag at the sprinting distance.

“You wouldn’t think that such a smart staying sire as Don Eduardo could sire a son that has so much brilliant speed. All I can say is he is a horse on the real improve, it is very exciting, I love being involved with him.”

LISTED $100,000 ARROW TRAINING SERVICES PLATE (3yo fillies), 1200m

BLACK CAVIAR, $1.20fav 1; Miraculous Miss, $31 2; Orbiting Belle, $17 3.

SECRET FLYER HAS AMBITIOUS WEIGHT-FOR-AGE GOALS AHEAD

RISING star SECRET FLYER will tackle weight-for-age company next month after scoring a last-to-first win in the BC3 Future Stars Sprint at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

The Mark Young-trained Secret Flyer, $2.45fav, made it five wins from his last six starts, with a powerhouse victory over Mrs Waters, $18, with Morgan Dollar ($3.40, a handy third.

Young said Secret Flyer would step up to weight-for-age class for his next two starts in the Group 3 McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 12 then the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at the Valley night meeting on September 25.

“There was plenty of pace on which we thought there would be. It was a concern before the corner but he hit the line good,” Young said. “The McEwen was always locked in and we'll take it from there.”

Secret Flyer, a six-year-old, has won nine of his 20 starts including Listed success at Flemington in January. “He’s just got that amazing turf of foot. He’s pretty good,” winning jockey, Craig Williams, said.

MOONEE VALLEY – SATURDAY – SIX FAVORITES SUCCESSFUL FROM EIGHT RACES. BLACK DAY FOR THE BOOKMAKERS. LONGEST PRICED WINNER: LA ROCKET AT $7.