Story highlights
- Black Caviar continues unbeaten run with win in Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot
- Australian superstar edges out French runner Moonlight Cloud in photo finish
- Trainer Peter Moody "extremely proud" of horse which extends winning streak to 22
Shaves don't come much closer than they did on Saturday when Black Caviar maintained her unbeaten record by the narrowest of margins in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
It took a photo finish to separate her from her French raider Moonlight Cloud, who had tracked her every step of the way with Restiadargent coming in third.
With 200 meters to go, the Australian mare was two lengths clear and coasting to victory, but as jockey Luke Nolen eased up her rivals closed in, almost pipping her at the post.
"It was an error that every apprentice is taught not to do, and I got away with it today," Nolen said.
"I hope my performance hasn't overshadowed what was a great effort by the stable," he added.
Black Caviar fans flock to Royal Ascot 01:16
There was an audible sigh of the relief from the traveling Australian fans as it was confirmed that she had won by a short head -- defending her unbeaten record and increasing her winning streak to 22.
Photos: Photos: Royal Ascot 2012
Photos: Photos: Royal Ascot 2012
Royal Ascot 2012 – A race-goer attends day five of the Royal Ascot races in Ascot, England, on Saturday, June 23.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrive at the course on day four of the races.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A sign and flags hang in the air.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Attendees escape the rain under their umbrellas on day four.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – An attendee examines a booklet with descriptions of the racers.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Riders race during the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on day five of Royal Ascot races Saturday.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Two onlookers congratulate each other with a high-five.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A large hat resembling the British flag sits atop a woman's head.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Racehorse Black Caviar neighs after carrying his rider across the finish line for the win on Saturday.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Racegoers sit at a table and study the form on Friday.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and other members of the royal familly arrive in the Parade Ring at the Royal Ascot on Ladies Day on Thursday, June 21. Ladies Day is traditionally the fashion highlight of the five-day race meeting.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Rain falls on the race-goers attending the Royal Ascot.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A couple stand in a puddle at Royal Ascot.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Frankie Dettori celebrates riding Colour Vision to win The Gold Cup during Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A woman shows off her unusual hat.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Race-goers wear plastic rain covers over their dresses during some showers.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Frankie Dettori riding Colour Vision, center, to win the Gold Cup.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Larisa Katz shows off an umbrella hat design at Royal Ascot.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A visitor to Royal Ascot photographs her friends.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A woman poses with a striking hat and equine-themed umbrella.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A group of women in striking hats poses for a photo.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – It's the end of the day in the silver ring during Ladies Day at Royal Ascot .
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A race-goer poses on day three of the Royal Ascot.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Princess Anne and Princess Beatrice attends Ladies Day.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A worker checks benches in the grandstand.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Pat Smullen riding Princess Highway wins The Ribblesdale Stakes during Ladies Day at Royal Ascot at Ascot racecourse.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A worker attempts to dry tables and chairs at a Champagne bar on Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A bench is decorated with a Union Jack flag in the Grandstand on Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Top hats are worn by race-goers at the Royal Ascot in England on Wednesday, June 20. The five-day meeting is one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar and the season. Thousands of race fans are expected to attend.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Runners take the bend away from the grandstand at Ascot racecourse.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A visitor to Royal Ascot holds a race guide and a glass of Champagne.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Race-goers from The Royal Enclosure watch the arrival of the royal family.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Two women chit-chat on day one of the races.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Lisa Scott Lee attends day two of Royal Ascot.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Photographers in top hats snap photos of Royal Ascot attendees.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she arrives.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A dress code assistant holds a basket of pashminas at the main entrance to Royal Ascot. Visitors are expected to keep to a strict dress code.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Visitors to Royal Ascot enjoy a picnic before the start of racing.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A race-goer wearing a flamboyant hat poses for the media.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Race-goers sit together on a bench.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A woman in a striking hat attends day one of the races.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A woman wearing an elaborate hat designed to look like a bird cage attends day one of the races.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – The Tootsie Rollers retro girl-band entertains visitors.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – A race-goer poses for photographers at the races.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Race-goers ride an escalator down from the private boxes of the Royal Enclosure.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Jackie St. Clair attends day two of Royal Ascot.
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Royal Ascot 2012 – Black Caviar, ridden by Paddy Bell, gallops before the Royal Ascot race meeting on June 14.
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"I am happy to come here and win, and we have done that," trainer, Peter Moody said after the result was announced.
"We never expect dominance, she gets the job done and we're extremely proud of her," he added.
Ascot was turned into a sea of salmon and black as racegoers of all nationalities showed up to support the "Wonder From Down Under."
A capacity crowd of 80,000 people packed the racecourse with 3,000 of those having flown all the way from Australia to get a glimpse of their hero.
The red-hot favorite was sent off at odds of one to seven ON -- meaning a seven dollar bet would earn you just one dollar.
Perhaps fittingly, the Queen herself presented the trophy to the Queen of the Turf and her connections --Moody and Nolen.
Moody hinted that retirement was a possibility if she doesn't show any sparkle when she returns home to Australia.
The mare will be going into quarantine on Sunday in preparation for her return home rather than stay in Europe for the July Cup at Newmarket, as had originally been suggested.
