BLACK CAVIAR

From today's Melbourne Herald Sun

Prankster's remorse after theft of Black Caviar jockey Luke Nolen's famous racing cap

by: Jon Kaila, Christian Nicolussi
From: Herald Sun
March 23, 2013 2:34PM

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Luke Nolen

Luke Nolen returns to scale after winning the William Reid Stakes on Black Caviar at Moonee Valley. Picture: Getty Images Source: Herald Sun

EVERYONE wants to be a part of the Black Caviar legacy.

A sell-out crowd of 25,000 packed Moonee Valley racecourse to watch the superstar storm to her 24th straight win on Friday night.

So it will come as no surprise that one alcohol-fuelled reveller, stumbling across jockey Luke Nolen's unattended riding helmet and colours, took the chance to grab the prized mementoes and run.

Mark Alexander woke up in the morning to find his wife in tears.

His photo had been plastered all over Twitter and Nolen's wife, Alicia, was threatening to report the missing gear to police.

"A mate of mine took it, but the picture is of me," Mr Alexander admitted.

"We'd had a couple of beers and it was just lying there and we thought it would be a harmless prank.

"It was meant to be a joke, but it was just stupid."

Nolen was at the presentation for Black Caviar's 24th win - his 21st as her jockey - when a staff member put the helmet on a hedge.

"I didn't realise the helmet was gone until about 20 minutes later," Nolen said from Sydney.

"I got pretty dirty. It wasn't so much the helmet but the cap. I was very s----y."

His wife took to Twitter in the morning to say Nolen was "gutted" and "devastated" and posted screen grabs taken from security footage of the man she held responsible.

"Such a low act after such a fantastic night," she tweeted.

Allan Morrison, who owns Legends & Heroes Memorabilia Shop in Richmond, valued the helmet and colours at $40,000.

"If he's worn that helmet for all of his 21 wins on Black Caviar, I'd put a value of $40,000, but there could be someone out there willing to pay $100,000 for it," said Mr Morrison, who has sold sporting memorabilia for 23 years.

"There is a massive demand for Black Caviar memorabilia and the helmet would be a real collector's item. But it is not going to be more valuable to anyone than Luke Nolen himself."

Taking the helmet was opportunistic, rather than financially motivated, Mr Alexander said.

He rang Victorian Jockeys Association president Des O'Keeffe to say he had the helmet and was due to hand it back.

"No damage has come to the helmet at all, but I'm really sorry for what has happened," Mr Alexander said.

"It definitely wasn't going to be sold. That was the last thing on our minds. I feel terrible about it. I'm so sorry."

Ms Nolen said her husband was "very, very relieved".

She said the helmet was going to be a souvenir for the couple's two children.

Superb pic txs Titch

Brilliant cartoon! hahahaha

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BGNfkkkCcAIo2_j.jpg:large

read an article on sportinglife that the owners are considering royal ascot again...peter moody would prefer to run her in the 5 furlong feature on the tuesday but would also consider both sprint features ...apparently she would then be covered by frankel....

i think better she retire undefeated. next time she go there she not so lucky with the b grade field she face then. what more must she proof?

I would love her to go to Ascot again, I hated when they retire champs early and great to have one still in training

I wish the Brits would reciprocate Black Caviar's Ascot trip by banding together, chartering a jumbo, and taking on Caviar in Aus.. But whom do they have?

Why not Shea Shea?
I can't think of any good sprinters of the top of my knapper at this early time but sprinting is the Aussie game and the Brits focus on the Classics more :S

scotia Wrote:

---

> Why not Shea Shea?
> I can't think of any good sprinters of the top of
> my knapper at this early time but sprinting is the
> Aussie game and the Brits focus on the Classics
> more :S

Is it possible????

It's possible but - I hate to say it - I think Shea Shea won't stand a chance.