Racing: Black Caviar likely to become world's highest rated sprinter

MELBOURNE - Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter says unbeaten mare Black Caviar has the potential to be the highest-ever rated sprinter in the world after blitzing her rivals to win the Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Carpenter said Black Caviar, already with a rating of 123, was "magnificent" in being unextended to post her ninth win by 3 lengths from Hay List and Warm Love.

"The official margin was 3 lengths but she could have won by six or more," Carpenter said.

"A 123 rating for a sprinter is rarefied territory and I have no doubt on what we saw today that she will exceed that mark in 2011."

Oasis Dream set the all-time best international sprinter rating of 125 in 2003 and Carpenter, who is a member of the World Thoroughbred Ranking Committee, said he would be arguing for Black Caviar to have her international rating lifted.

The daughter of Bel Esprit raced into a strong headwind and, eased down by jockey Luke Nolen, covered the 1000m in 57.2 seconds.

She carried 56.5kg at weight-for-age in the Lightning, but Carpenter said her local handicap rating of 118 would soar for her next proposed assignment in the Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Flemington on March 12.

"Neil Jennings is the sprints handicapper and he will probably come to a conclusion on Monday," Carpenter said on Saturday.

Weights for the Newmarket will be declared on March 1 and Black Caviar has firmed to $1.35 with TAB Sportsbet to make the feature her 10th win.

"Without doubt she will carry 58kg in the Newmarket and everything else will have less, but how much less Neil has to decide," Carpenter said.

"She had 2kg less than Hay List today and she will have more weight than Hay List in the Newmarket."

However jockey Glyn Schofield is unconvinced that a turnaround in the weights will be enough for Hay List to trouble Black Caviar after she left him in her wake in the Lightning.

"She was just way too good," Schofield said. "I don't think Luke actually got her out of three-quarter pace.

"As far as I was concerned I was happy to let a couple of others take her on early and then I chimed in at around the 600m. "He strolled up alongside her travelling really well but as soon as the mare stretched out she left me for dead.

"It is going to take a mighty effort from anyone to beat her in the form she's in at the moment.

"We know he is probably better second-up but he will be hard pressed to find another five or six lengths to try and stay on terms with her."

Hay List is second favourite for the Newmarket at $12.

Shellscrape travels to Melbourne this week for the Oakleigh Plate having fully recovered from a foot abscess which delayed the start of his autumn campaign.

The Galaxy winner was due to return in the Southern Cross Stakes on February 12 but was pulled out a day earlier.

However, Rosehill trainer Chris Waller said it was nothing but a minor blip and the 4-year-old had missed no work in the lead-up to the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

"He looks terrific and will leave for Melbourne on Wednesday," Waller said yesterday. "We thought about giving him a barrier trial to make up for missing the race but decided to give him three gallops the reverse way of going instead.

"He has already had two and will have his final workout on Tuesday.

"It's a bit hard to get a line on him because he is very relaxed but he seems to handle the other way of going and looks terrific so I'm happy."

Nash Rawiller will take the mount and also will be aboard Futurity Stakes favourite More Joyous.

Shellscrape has been group one placed twice in Melbourne but both those were up the straight at Flemington. He finished third to Headway in the Coolmore Stud Stakes in the spring of 2009 and third in the Lightning Stakes won by Nicconi in January last year.

- AAP