Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Tips - Runner-by-Runner Guide for the Flemington Group 1
- Black Caviar Lightning Stakes set for Saturday under weight-for-age conditions
- Top contenders include Growing Empire, I Am Me and Joyful Fortune
- The race celebrates famous sprinters and promises thrilling competition
The race named after our greatest ever sprinter is run down the famous Flemington straight over 1000m this Saturday and is run under weight-for-age conditions.
The Group 1 race was first run in 1955 and has been won by some champion sprinters including Todman (1960), Schillaci (92,93) and Chautauqua (2016).
An excellent field will line up on Saturday and we have gone through every one below. You can also read our Black Caviar Lightning preview.
1. Mazu (11)
A winner of over $8 million in prizemoney the Joe Pride trained six-year-old’s biggest win came in the 2022 Doomben 10,000.
He’s won once since that Group 1 victory and that was in April 2024 and although he remains competitive, it’s hard to see him winning this first up.
2. Mornington Glory (9)
Strung together three wins in a row during his last campaign including the Group 1 Moir Stakes over 1000m at The Valley.
He’s a genuine short course specialist which is an advantage and he’s finished in the top two in four of his five starts at Flemington and is unbeaten in five starts over 1000m.
3. Joyful Fortune (1)
Former Hong Kong sprinter who dominated his rivals when making his Australian racing debut here at Flemington back in 2022.
Returned to the track after over two years away and was well supported over 1200m first up but was swamped late to just be beaten.
That was an impressive effort considering the long lay off and he’ll find the 1000m more advantageous.
4. Way To The Stars (8)
Only a lightly raced six year old gelding who worked his way up through the grades and led all of the way in the Listed Century Stakes here at Flemington to close out his spring campaign.
This is his first go at Group 1 level and he isn’t suited by the weight-for-age scale in my opinion.
5. Philosopher (10)
Secured the sixth win of his 20 start career last time out at Listed level at Sandown over 1000m.
Will settle on the speed but I’m not convinced he’s going well enough to win a Group 1.
6. I Am Me (12)
Earned a spot in The Everest with a win in the Group 2 The Shorts beating Stefi Magnetica in the process and she wasn’t beaten far in her Grand Final.
She has four wins from six first up starts and 10 of her 11 career wins have been on a good surface which she likely gets on Saturday.
7. Benedetta (2)
Was narrowly denied in The Sangster at Morphettville before claiming her first Group 1 victory in The Goodwood last year.
She failed to feature in the finish in the Stradbroke and has always performed best against her own sex and over further.
8. Stretan Angel (5)
Was beaten by the barest of margins in the Group 1 Goodwood behind Benedetta and a similar margin in the Group 2 Gilgai down the Flemington straight during last campaign.
Closed out the spring when beaten less than a length in the Group 1 Champions Sprint and a repeat of that would see her competitive in a race like this.
9. Skybird (3)
An exciting and talented four-year-old mare with a heap of upside.
The daughter of Exosphere was placed in the Thousand Guineas as a three-year-old and is yet to miss a place from two attempts here at headquarters.
Will be better over further but she has a good turn of foot late in her races.
10. Growing Empire (6)
One of three of the three-year-old brigade taking on the older horses first up and is searching for his fifth career win at start nine.
Is yet to miss a place during his short racing life and was beaten by a pimple in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes during the spring.
Right in this.
11. Switzerland (11)
Started his spring assault with an ordinary effort first up but then came out and won the Group 2 Roman Consul and Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes to prove her is the best sprinting colt in the country.
He’s a winner over 1000m and the partnership of Waller and McDonald is hard to ignore.
12. Traffic Warden (4)
Narrowly denied in the Golden Rose second up last campaign and failed to fire a shot in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
There is no doubt that he has the class to mix it with the best but he’ll likely settle back in the field and be doing his best work late.
Verdict
1st: No. 10 Growing Empire
2nd: No. 6 I Am Me
3rd: No. 3 Joyful Fortune
4th: No. 2 Mornington Glory
2nd: No. 6 I Am Me
3rd: No. 3 Joyful Fortune
4th: No. 2 Mornington Glory
Growing Empire
Each-Way
@14/5 - 3 Units
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