‘I’ve never won one’: Black Caviar owner Neil Werrett’s shot at Oaks dream

Neil Werrett, who raced the incomparable Black Caviar, revealed despite all his success in the sport he has never shared in the ownership of a classic winner. But he hopes that changes on Saturday.

Black Caviar wins at Royal Ascot.

The owner of the greatest sprinter of them all could finally achieve a career ambition on Saturday.

Neil Werrett, who raced the incomparable Black Caviar, revealed despite all his success in the sport he has never shared in the ownership of a classic winner.

“I’ve never won an Oaks or a Derby,’’ Werrett said.

This could all change at Eagle Farm where the leading Sydney racing identity shares in the ownership of Scarlet Oak, the $3.50 TAB Fixed Odds favourite for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m).

For good measure, Werrett is also a part-owner of the two feature race favourites at Royal Randwick — Semillion ($4.80) for the Listed $200,000 Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) and Waterford ($3.90) in the Racing And Sports Handicap (2000m).

There is no such thing as a certainty in racing – the exception of course was Black Caviar, undefeated in 25 starts, including 15 at Group 1 level – but Werrett is understandably excited by the possibility of a treble of wins on Saturday including a breakthrough classic success.

The Chris Waller-trained Scarlet Oak, a winner of three of her four starts, is attempting to complete an extraordinary rise from a Matamata maiden win on debut in March to a Group 1 classic winner, all in her first race preparation.

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Werrett (second from right) with Charles and Camilla at Royal Ascot.

Werrett revealed leading owner Ozzie Kheir contacted him after purchasing Scarlet Oak soon after the filly’s debut win.

“I know Ozzie well and he told me about two horses he had just bought from New Zealand and recommended both myself and Colin (Madden) should go in them,’’ Werrett said.

“One of them was Scarlet Oak and she was going to Chris (Waller), and the other, Sergeant Major, was going to Ciaron (Maher), both trainers I respect. They are promising horses.’’

Scarlet Oak ran second at Randwick at her first start for the new ownership group before winning her next two races including the Group 2 The Roses and is a deserving favourite for the Queensland Oaks.

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Scarlet Oak wins The Roses. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography

“She has been amazing, I can’t believe how well she has been doing in her first preparation,’’ Werrett said.

“It is a credit to Chris the way he has kept her going. She travelled over from New Zealand, then raced in Sydney and Newcastle before she was sent to Brisbane. We are very lucky to have a filly like her.’’

Werrett and Madden, who have been friends since childhood and shared in the ownership of Black Caviar, race a number of horses together including the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained Semillion, an impressive last start winner of the Listed Takeover Target Stakes at Newcastle.

Black Caviar at Royal Ascot.

Semillion improved his record to three wins (and five placings) from 18 starts and lifted his career earnings to nearly $750,000 – a handsome return on the $300,000 that was needed to secure the sprinter as a yearling.

“I named the horse after the wine but I spelt it wrong - everyone gives me a hard time about that,’’ Werrett said.

“Semillion showed promise as a two-year-old but then lost his way a bit and the Hawkes team said if we wanted to make a racehorse out of him, then he needed gelding.

“He’s racing quite well now and that was a very good win last start. He loves a wet track, too.’’

Werrett’s improving staying Waterford was nominated for the Lord Mayor’s Cup but trainer Chris Waller has decided the Racing And Sports Handicap is the more suitable race.

Waterford just missed last start when he charged through the ruck to finish a close second to Sky Lab in the Listed Scone Cup and the pair are clashing again at Randwick.

“I think Waterford should have won the Scone Cup, that was unfortunate,’’ Werrett said. “But he’s also in good form and likes wet tracks.’’

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If Werrett can pull off a treble of wins on Saturday, it would be a significant achievement but the owner conceded nothing will ever compare to the magic carpet ride he had with Black Caviar.

It was 12 years ago this week when Black Caviar left for England to take on the world at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Black Caviar showed her champion qualities to score a famous win at Royal Ascot despite not being at her best.

“I remember Black Caviar had worked brilliantly on the Tuesday morning before the race but that night Peter (Moody, trainer) told us he was worried about the mare,’’ Werrett said.

“He indicated to us he was just hoping to get her to the races on Saturday. The owners left the final decision whether to run or not up to Peter, it was always his call.’’

Black Caviar still showed her superiority racing to the front inside the final 200m and looked set to win by a comfortable margin when jockey Luke Nolen began to ease up on the mighty mare.

Neil Werrett leads Black Caviar back to scale.

The Hall of Fame sprinter almost pulled up only for Nolen to shake the reins at her again near the line to hold off the fast finishing Moonlight Cloud.

“I’ve always felt Luke has been unfairly criticised for that ride,’’ Werrett said. “Black Caviar wasn’t quite 100 per cent right and still won which is all that really matters.’’

Moody did bring Black Caviar back for one more race preparation in the autumn of 2013, a three-start cameo which ended with a runaway win in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick before the unbeaten super sprinter was retired to stud.

The Everest was introduced in 2017 and how Werrett must wish Black Caviar could have had the chance to contest the world’s richest turf race.

Luke Nolen with Neil Werrett.

But Werrett, who has an Everest slot with Madden and Max Whitby, is hoping they have found the right horse for The Everest this year after selecting Perth two-year-old Bustling, winner of four of his five starts including the Karrakatta Plate and WA Sires Produce Stakes.

The slot-holders decision to select Bustling for The Everest surprised many but Werrett said plenty of thought went into the call.

“We spent a fair bit of time analysing what Bustling had done and the winning times he ran which are very good,’’ Werrett said.

“What really sealed it was his last start win over 1400m which showed he is a strong, young horse.

“The ratings show is right up there with the best two-year-olds of the season which is quite amazing when you have the likes of Lady Of Camelot.

“(Trainer) Michael Kent Junior was very bullish on Bustling and so was (jockey) Blake Shinn so we felt it was the right decision to buy a controlling interest in the horse and lock him in for The Everest.’’

Bustling … again!

The rising star of WA racing, Bustling has added a 3rd stakes victory with a dominant display as favourite in the Group 3 @Quayclean WA Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m at Ascot.

Bred and raced by Oakland Park Stud, Bustling is by Frosted and takes his… pic.twitter.com/qIX64AVPmY

— Aushorse (@Aushorse_TBA) May 4, 2024

Meanwhile, the great Black Caviar, a rising 18-year-old mare, is in foal to champion sire Snitzel and due to give birth in mid-August.

“I saw Black Caviar on Scone Cup weekend and she looks fabulous,’’ Werrett said.

“She has a two-year-old filly by Written Tycoon we have named Persian Caviar that is with Peter Moody but she won’t race until spring.

“There’s also a yearling colt by The Autumn Sun that is doing very well and we will see how he develops as a two-year-old.’’

Werrett and his wife, Dr Lena Attebo, are due to leave for England next week to attend the five-day Royal Ascot meeting starting June 18, but this time as spectators rather than owners.

“We can only dream that we get a horse good enough to take over to Royal Ascot again one day,’’ Werrett said. “But nothing will ever top Black Caviar, they are fabulous memories.’’

Originally published as ‘I’ve never won one’: Black Caviar owner Neil Werrett’s shot at Oaks dream