CONNECTIONS of Black Caviar have announced the retirement of the world's fastest sprinter and Australia's favourite racehorse.

She finishes her career unbeaten after 25 starts, which includes a record 15 Group 1 victories.

Trainer Peter Moody and managing owner Neil Werrett made the announcement at a press conference at Caulfield this afternoon.

Rod Nicholson: A champion in a league of her own

"We thought long and hard about racing on but believe she has done everything we asked of her and felt it was the right time to call time on her wonderful career,'' Moody said.

"She's in great shape and that's the way we wanted her to bow out. We just thought the time was right... it was a hard decision.''

Moody said her 2013 campaign had been a bonus after the stresses of Royal Ascot last year.

"We got three more runs than we thought we were ever going to have,'' he said. "We thought she would be retired post-Ascot.

"But we've been fortunate to bring her home here and I think the owners are to be congratulated on allowing me to race her on and give the Australian public three more opportunities to see her.

"We've done our job, she's more than done hers, she's been a great advocate for the sport.

"She brought interest to our sport that hasn't been there for decades. Black Caviars don't come along every day.''

Moody said Black Caviar would be paraded at Caulfield on Saturday, virtually guaranteeing a full house.

What was her best win? Vote now

Werrett paid tribute to the jockey who rode Black Caviar on all but three of her 25 starts.

"We'd like to thank Luke Nolen for doing a fantastic job,'' he said. "It's not easy, the pressure he goes through every week.''

Werrett would not speculate on who her stallion might be amid rumours that it could be Frankel, another of the world's top racehoreses.

"We've got a bit of time to decide. We'll start thinking about that probably from tomorrow,'' he said.

In pictures: Black Caviar's victories

Towards the end of Black Caviar's racing career, records tumbled with every start.

The win in the TJ Smith at Randwick last Saturday extended her unbeaten run to 25. In the process she also:

SCORED her 15th Group 1 win, breaking the record she had shared with Kingston Town;

MADE it eight Group 1 wins in succession, eclipsing the record previously held by Bernborough that has stood since 1946;

BECAME the first to win the TJ Smith Stakes twice;

BROUGHT her prizemoney close to $8 million, the most won by a sprinter.

Black Caviar tributes flow on Twitter

Black Caviar didn't register her first Group 1 until her eighth start, in the Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington on November 6, 2010.

She has since raced at the elite level, apart from three wins at Group 2.

She has won a Newmarket Handicap, setting a metric weight-carrying record for mares (58kg), a William Reid Stakes, TJ Smith Stakes, BTC Cup, Sportingbet Classic and The Goodwood over 1200m in Australia, plus the 1400m C.F. Orr Stakes.

She won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot last July.

THE RECORD

Starts: 25. Wins: 25

Group 1 wins: 15

Prizemoney: $7,953,936

Distance range: 1000m-1400m

Winning jockeys: Luke Nolen (22), Jarrad Noske (2), Ben Melham (1)

Trainer: Peter Moody

First race: Cromwell Handicap (1000m) at Flemington, April 18, 2009

Last race: T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, April 13, 2013

25 facts about Black Caviar

MAJOR WINS

Diamond Jubilee Stakes (ENG/2012)

VRC Newmarket Handicap (2011)

VRC Lightning Stakes (2011-13)

VRC Patinack Farm Classic (2010-11)

ATC T J Smith Stakes (2011, 2013)

MVRC William Reid Stakes (2011, 2013)

BTC Cup (2011)

MRC C F Orr Stakes (2012)

MVRC Australia Stakes (2010, 2012)

MRC Schillaci Stakes (2010-11)

MVRC Schweppes Stakes (2010-11)

VRC Danehill Stakes (2009)



AWARDS

World Champion Sprinter (2010-12)

Australian Racehorse of the Year (2011-12)

European Champion Sprinter (2012)

Australian Champion sprinter (2011-12)

SEE HOW TODAY'S NEWS UNFOLDED IN OUR LIVE BLOG BELOW



On a mobile device? Click here for a better viewing experience

&lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=c4f48bcc84" &gt;LIVE: Black Caviar announcement&lt;/a&gt;