Imperatriz to face seven rivals in Black Caviar Lightning

February 14, 2024 2:56 pm.

Imperatriz will make her highly anticipated return in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning on Saturday. (Photo: Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

The Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning will headline the meeting at Flemington Racecourse this Saturday afternoon, with eight runners accepting for one of the most anticipated races leading into the Victorian autumn carnival.

Of the eight horses who accepted for the $1 million weight-for-age contest, only Rich Fortune and The Astrologist will not be coming into it first-up.

The obvious headline act in this year’s Black Caviar Lightning will be the Mark Walker-trained mare Imperatriz (-125), who will kick off her campaign after an unbeaten spring preparation that delivered three Group 1 wins.

The eight-time Group 1 winner has been the talk of the racing world in the last few months, especially after her most recent barrier trial at Cranbourne looked average.

Private Eye (+500) has been touted as the best chance to topple the overwhelming favourite; however, the Joseph Pride-trained gelding is yet to win over 1000m and has only one Group 1 victory to his name from 10 attempts.

The next two runners in the market are the three-year-old colts, I Am Unstoppable (+550) and Cylinder (+800), with the former taking on open weight-for-age company for the first time.

The Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans-trained colt finished second behind Ozzmosis in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes last start, while Cylinder was last seen finishing a disappointing 13th of 16 in the same race.

Rounding out the runners under double figures is the Ciaron Maher-trained Bella Nipotina (+850), who will be seeking to go two better after her third-place finish in this race last year.

The Black Caviar Lightning is scheduled to jump at 4:15pm AEDT and will be the eighth race of the day at Flemington.