Tweet, tweet … OMG Black Caviar

Black Caviar may not quite be the talk of the racing world just yet, but on Saturday she was the talk of racing’s Twitter world.

There is quite a large international racing community on Twitter and other social networking sites, and it was intriguing to catch an instant reaction to Black Caviar’s win in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) win at Flemington.

The race was covered live in the US and on the American iPhone application Australian Racing, and also live in the United Kingdom.

New York-based journalist and bloodstock consultant Sid Fernando (@sidfernando), a prolific user of Twitter – he has sent more than 30,000 tweets – was one of the first to tune in, and he gave his Twitter coverage to his 1625 followers from the time the horses gathered behind the stalls.

This was his succinct description of the race, in four tweets, with all eyes on Black Caviar: “going easy … here she goes, on lead easy … 3 (to) 4 in front … easy 4 length winner”.

Others quickly joined in. Another North American journalist, photographer and author Jamie Newell (@wowhorse), from Illinois – I later found out it’s a woman after calling her “mate” – cottoned on to Sid’s tweets and also made comment, especially when King Pulse was asked to trot up for the veterinarian following playing up in the barriers: “Wow… they would never let a horse trot away from the gate like that in the US after bucking off the rider from the gate”.

After watching the race Newell was in raptures of Black Caviar:

“HOLY SHIT!!!!

“OMG she looks AWWWWWWESOME!!!!”

American sports nut and man of 10,000 tweets, Ed Morgans (@edmorgans) replied after reading some of the comments on Black Caviar by repeating (retweeting) Newell: “This would be another, less wordy, way to sum up Black Caviar’s performance. RT @wowhorse HOLY SHIT!!!!”

Newell followed up with:

“Black Caviar was crazy impressive. With Rachel & Zenyatta gone, I’m looking overseas for a hero to follow now!

“Sounds like we won’t be seeing her anytime soon in the USA, then. The Aussies rarely, if ever, come here to race.

“She didn’t even appear to be trying! She sped out of there like the others were working w/(with) deflated tires (sic)!

“I got lucky. Just looked at Twitter before the race went off & saw I hadn’t missed it. Glad I saw it!”

Newell immediately asked through Twitter for more information on Australian racing.

Across the Atlantic, the reaction hummed along.

Australian trainer Jeremy Gask (@jeremygask), now based in Wiltshire, England, also chimed in with a comment that Black Caviar was the best sprinter he had seen.

James Knight (@jamesaknight), who works for bookmaking firm Corals, made his request: “dreaming of Caviar at Ascot …”

Expat Australian Scott Ferguson (@borisranting), formerly of Betfair and based in England, said he always rated Silent Witness the best sprinter he had seen: “watched Silent Witness at Sha Tin once, he’s my benchmark” but Black Caviar is “getting very close. A Newmarket win off top weight would seal the deal.”

James Knight (@jamesknight) said that he has “word that there may be a better chance than is being reported” of Royal Ascot recruiter Nick Smith talking Peter Moody into travelling to Royal Ascot this year.

David Johnson (@davidjohnson82), after watching a replay of the race on Youtube: “Black Caviar wins Lightning Stakes. Surely the best sprinter in the world.”

Gavin Dobson (@gav_dobson), also after watching a replay: “A.Mazing”.

In Japan, @sundaysilence0325 was delighted with reports that Black Caviar could race in Japan later in 2011, and also showed a surprisingly good knowledge of Australian racing history: “Congratulations to Black Caviar. She will challenge to Australian record set by Grand Flaneur.

“I’m really looking forward to watching Black Caviar in Japan! We’ll roll out the red carpet!!”

The eyes and tweeps (people who tweet) of the world are on the wonder sprinter from Down Under.

Danny Power can be followed on Twitter: http://twitter.com/@thethoroughbred

Photo: Black Caviar (Ben Melham) winning the G1 Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington last November.