http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/18465021

No-one is quite sure why Black Caviar was given the stable-name 'Nelly' when joining trainer Peter Moody's team at Caulfield in Melbourne.

But as the unbeaten mare goes through final preparations ahead of an attempt at extending her winning streak to 22 in Royal Ascot's prestigious Diamond Jubilee Stakes, it's certainly appropriate.

The circus of interest surrounding the horse, Moody himself, the owners and jockey Luke Nolen, back home in Australia and also in Britain, is little short of elephantine.

From the moment Black Caviar arrived at Heathrow Airport, protected against the rigours of long distance travel by a specially designed compression suit, she's stirred media attention to a level to satisfy any ringmaster.

Black Caviar factfile

• Born: 18 August 2006. Bottle fed as a foal

• Height: 16.2 hands (5ft 4¾ ins, 164.6 cm)

• Optimum racing weight: 565-575kg (1,245-1,267lb)

• Fastest 200m time: 9.98 seconds, equivalent of 72.14km/h or 44.83mph