THE gamesmanship and cross-border jousting has helped set the scene.
Now for some racing.
Black Caviar, the horse that can't be beaten, puts it on the line for the 25th time at Randwick tomorrow and is a $1.10 favourite to keep her peerless record intact.
The champion sprinter of the world is also attempting to win her 15th Group I race in the TJ Smith Stakes, a feat that would be an Australian record in itself.
And barring a catastrophe, and it would be one, she will win.
While some are suggesting the Melbourne mare will be given the treatment by her Sydney opposition, no-one is tipping against a Black Caviar victory.
Trainers in Sydney this week have raised their eyebrows and put on knowing looks when questioned about the tactics likely to be employed against Black Caviar.
John O'Shea, who will run Sea Siren, said her inside barrier draw could be a disaster and fellow trainer Joe Pride, has questioned the quality of those who have opposed her in her past few wins.
It is a popular knock on the mare that she hasn't faced large or good fields in many of her 24 victories.
That observation can be met with another that says it has always been so with the greatest horses.
Phar Lap, for instance, met fewer horses in most of his Australian starts than Black Caviar has.
In 31 of his 36 Australian wins, Phar Lap faced six or fewer opponents.
In 15 of those wins only three or fewer lined up against him and in five of those he met only two challengers.
Yet, when he was called on to perform he did.
After three months without a race and after three weeks in a horse box on the open deck of a steamship crossing the Pacific, Phar Lap, in his first run on dirt, started favourite and won the richest race on earth in track record time.
At Randwick, Black Caviar confronts 10 other horses ranging from Bel Sprinter at $11 to Onthelookout, whose trainer admits he's only there to earn bragging rights, at $301.
Already O'Shea has declared the classy Sea Siren is short of her peak, the outstanding sprinter Hay List is under a cloud and stewards have been informed he won't engage in any speed battle, and Bel Sprinter's trainer Jason Warren says he will drop straight to the rear.
Corey Brown on the likely leader Rain Affair has declared he will serve it up the mare and Pride says she will be made to earn her cheque.
It's all been said before.
She beat Hay List when he was younger and fitter and gave him a six-length start.
She's beaten 35 individual Group I winners in her 24 starts.
And, as Moody said this week, under the conditions of the race, “there is no horse on the planet that can beat her”.
Now for some racing.
Black Caviar, the horse that can't be beaten, puts it on the line for the 25th time at Randwick tomorrow and is a $1.10 favourite to keep her peerless record intact.
The champion sprinter of the world is also attempting to win her 15th Group I race in the TJ Smith Stakes, a feat that would be an Australian record in itself.
And barring a catastrophe, and it would be one, she will win.
While some are suggesting the Melbourne mare will be given the treatment by her Sydney opposition, no-one is tipping against a Black Caviar victory.
Trainers in Sydney this week have raised their eyebrows and put on knowing looks when questioned about the tactics likely to be employed against Black Caviar.
John O'Shea, who will run Sea Siren, said her inside barrier draw could be a disaster and fellow trainer Joe Pride, has questioned the quality of those who have opposed her in her past few wins.
It is a popular knock on the mare that she hasn't faced large or good fields in many of her 24 victories.
That observation can be met with another that says it has always been so with the greatest horses.
Phar Lap, for instance, met fewer horses in most of his Australian starts than Black Caviar has.
In 31 of his 36 Australian wins, Phar Lap faced six or fewer opponents.
In 15 of those wins only three or fewer lined up against him and in five of those he met only two challengers.
Yet, when he was called on to perform he did.
After three months without a race and after three weeks in a horse box on the open deck of a steamship crossing the Pacific, Phar Lap, in his first run on dirt, started favourite and won the richest race on earth in track record time.
At Randwick, Black Caviar confronts 10 other horses ranging from Bel Sprinter at $11 to Onthelookout, whose trainer admits he's only there to earn bragging rights, at $301.
Already O'Shea has declared the classy Sea Siren is short of her peak, the outstanding sprinter Hay List is under a cloud and stewards have been informed he won't engage in any speed battle, and Bel Sprinter's trainer Jason Warren says he will drop straight to the rear.
Corey Brown on the likely leader Rain Affair has declared he will serve it up the mare and Pride says she will be made to earn her cheque.
It's all been said before.
She beat Hay List when he was younger and fitter and gave him a six-length start.
She's beaten 35 individual Group I winners in her 24 starts.
And, as Moody said this week, under the conditions of the race, “there is no horse on the planet that can beat her”.
