Black Caviar Lightning
Black Caviar Lightning
Group One Betting Guide
| Date: | Saturday, Feburary 15, 2025 |
| Location: | Flemington Racecourse – Victoria, Australia |
| Prize Money: | $1,000,000 |
| Distance: | 1000m |
Flemington hosts the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning which has since been renamed the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes after the champion mare dominated the race for three successive years.
Black Caviar made the Lightning Stakes her own, but the winners list also features some of Australia’s other sprinting champions and it is firmly one of the biggest races of the year. The Black Caviar Lightning will next be run on February 18, 2023.
The Group 1 weight-for-age sprint has a purse of $1,000,000 and due to the timing of the race in February, it gains all the attention from the betting public.
The Black Caviar Lightning is the first of three big sprint events in Melbourne for the Autumn carnival, with the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield and the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in the weeks following the Lightning Stakes.
The Black Caviar Lightning is one of the major betting races in Australia, so which star thoroughbred will be next to add their name to the growing list of champions?
2025 Black Caviar Lightning betting odds
Markets for the 2025 Black Caviar Lightning are currently unavailable.
Best Black Caviar Lightning bookmakers
All of our listed bookmakers will offer all-in and fixed odds betting on the Lighting Stakes.The sprint is one of the most popular betting races on the Australian racing calendar so the bookmakers know how important framing the best value market is.
Black Caviar Lightning bookies
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Latest Black Caviar Lightning News
Black Caviar Lightning betting guide
The Lightning Stakes has not been a good betting race for favourites punters in recent history. Three of the past seven winners of the Lightning Stakes have come in at double figure odds, with the exception being In Her Time in 2019, Nature Strip in 2021, Home Affairs in 2022 and Coolangatta in 2023.
Black Caviar won at minuscule odds from 2011-2013 and other favourites include Miss Andretti in 2007 and Chautauqua in 2016.
The likes of Lankan Rupee, Apache Cat and Nicconi were all well-favoured in the betting with Scenic Blast and Gytrash the only runners to cause an upset in the last 10 years when it won paying $20.
There has been some beaten favourites which have given punters a headache. Quality sprinters Alinghi, Nature Strip Schillaci and Show County all finished second as the favourite.
Also included in the beaten favourites list was the highly-touted Deep Field, Weekend Hussler and Hareeba which ran as the $1.36 elect. Nature Strip also went around as a $1.35 favourite in 2020 but could do no better than a fourth placed finish.
There have been only six double-figure odds winners in the last 30 years so backing the well-favoured runners usually seen as a smart Lightning Stakes strategy.
Fillies and mares have a good record in the Lightning Stakes with recent winners including Black Caviar, Miss Andretti, In Her Time, Snitzerland, Regimental Gal. Spinning Hill & Coolangatta.
Running down the Flemington straight doesn’t suit every sprinter in Australia, so it’s best to make note of which runners have experience running down the straight. Some horses often need a turn to produce their best turn-of-foot, whereas others can sprint when asked.
The best barrier to jump from is barrier two. Seven of the last 39 winners have jumped from barrier two with the next best barriers being five and one.
Damien Oliver is a rider to follow with five wins in the Lightning Stakes including consecutive wins in the race aboard Schillaci. The champion jockey has had a great record in the race and he knows how to ride Flemington better than any other current Victoria rider.
2025 Black Caviar Lightning Final Field
HorseBetting will update this page when the 2025 Black Caviar Lightning field is released.
Previous Black Caviar Lightning Fields
Many a Group 1 sprinting superstar has used the Black Caviar Lightning to kick off their autumn campaigns.
1. Private Eye (8)
- T: Joseph Pride
- J: Blake Shinn
- W: 58.5kg
- F: x231x
- Age: 6YO
- Color: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Al Maher
- Dam: Confidential Queen (USA)
2. The Astrologist (7)
- T: Leon & Troy Corstens
- J: Luke Currie
- W: 58.5kg
- F: 59×52
- Age: 7YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Zoustar
- Dam: Aquada
3. Bella Nipotina (6)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Craig Williams
- W: 56.5kg
- F: x5133
- Age: 6YO
- Color: Chestnut
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Dark Angel (IRE)
- Dam: Cadenza (FR)
4. Imperatriz (2)
- T: Mark Walker
- J: Opie Bosson
- W: 56.5kg
- F: x1111
- Age: 5YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: I Am Invincible
- Dam: Berimbau (USA)
5. Espiona (4)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Michael Dee
- W: 56.5kg
- F: x4171
- Age: 5YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Extreme Choice
- Dam: Dahooil (NZ)
6. Rich Fortune (1)
- T: Jerome Hunter
- J: Mark Zahra
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 4353x
- Age: 4YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Rich Enuff
- Dam: Nkwazi’s Daughter
7. Cylinder (5)
- T: James Cummings
- J: Damian Lane
- W: 55.5kg
- F: x0531
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Exceed And Excel
- Dam: Circular (IRE)
No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Nature Strip Chris Waller James McDonald 1 58.5kg 2 I Wish I Win Peter Moody Luke Nolen 4 58.5kg 3 Baller Tony Gollan Mark Zahra 8 58.5kg 4 Fire Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Damien Oliver 3 58.5kg 5 Bella Nipotina Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ben Melham 7 56.5kg 6 Roch ‘N’ HorseMike MoroneyJamie Mott256.5kg7 September Run Chris Waller Blake Shinn 5 56.5kg 8 Marabi Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ben Allen 5 56.5kg 9 Buenos Noches Matthew Smith Craig Williams 11 55.5kg 10 Millane Peter Moody Daniel Stackhouse 10 55.5kg 11 Coolangatta Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Jamie Kah 9 53.5kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Nature Strip Chris Waller Jamie Kah 6 58.5kg 2 Eduardo Joseph Pride Nash Rawiller 5 58.5kg 3 Masked Crusader Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jye McNeil 3 58.5kg 4 Gytrash Gordon Richards & Damien Moyle Mark Zahra 2 58.5kg 5 The Inferno Cliff Brown Damian Lane 4 58.5kg 6 The Astrologist Leon & Troy Corstens John Allen 1 58.5kg 7 Swats That Leon & Troy Corstens Damien Oliver 9 56.5kg 8 Home Affairs Chris Waller James McDonald 8 55.5kg 9 Profiteer Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr Brett Prebble 7 55.5kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Nature Strip Chris Waller Jamie Kah 2 58.5kg 2 Bivouac James Cummings Glen Boss 6 58.5kg 3 Elite Street Daniel Morton Mark Zahra 5 58.5kg 4 Halvorsen Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock Andrew Mallyon 1 58.5kg 5 Pippie Chris Meagher Damian Lane 4 56.5kg 6 Fabergino Tiarnna Robertson Jordan Childs 9 59kg 7 September Run Chris Waller Craig Williams 3 53.5kg 8 Swats That Leon & Troy Corstens Jye McNeil 8 53.5kg
2024 Black Caviar Lightning result
1st – Imperatriz (-166.67)
2nd – Private Eye (-222.22)
3rd – Espiona (+320)
Recent Black Caviar Lightning winners
- An unimpressive trial created a touch of uncertainty around Imperatriz ahead of her first-up run in the 2024 $1 million Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington, but the Te Akau Racing wonder-mare blew all those doubts away and carried on her winning way. Ridden positively by Opie Bosson, Imperatriz went forward and took up a position at the head of the field. She was joined by the $10 million earner Private Eye, and the pair matched motors most of the way along Flemington’s famous Straight Six. There was a moment in the straight where Private Eye appeared to be going the better of the pair, but Bosson went to work on Imperatriz and she lifted and edged ahead. She reached the finish line a head in front of Private Eye, clocking 57.54 seconds for the 1000m.
- All eyes were on the returning sprinting champ – Nature Strip – in the 2023 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. However, it was Coolangatta getting her second Group 1 success in the 1000m weight-for-age feature. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained three-year-old filly was set a trick assignment first-up but with a strong jump out prior to Saturday, Coolangatta was too good for Nature Strip and the remaining nine-rivals. The win comes after an impressive spring campaign, highlighted in Group 1 success in the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley. She then took on her age group in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes to be defeated 3.6 lengths by superstar filly In Secret. She returned from a 112-day spell and was simply too sharp for her rivals over the 1000m, pinging clear for Jamie Kah taking out her second Black Caviar Lightning after winning on Nature Strip in 2021. I Wish I Win returned in terrific fashion powering home into second and looks primed heading to a Newmarket, while Bella Nipotina and September Run were strong closers as well. Nature Strip who took the lead and was clearly the disappointing run, whether there’s more fallout regarding his performance remains to be seen. It was all honours the winner though as Coolangatta was ridden perfect by Jamie Kah just off the speed and held off all challenges on the line.
- The 2022 Lightning Stakes will go down in folklore with Home Affairs and Nature Strip giving Chris Waller the quinella in the race for the second year in the row. Home Affairs managed to lead throughout, but it was a drama-filled contest behind from when the barriers opened. Nature Strip was sandwiched out of the gates by Profiteer and Eduardo and was a clear last inside the first 50m. The Strip managed to accelerate quickly and settle just off his stablemates heels. They paired off inside the final furlong and despite being left vulnerable late, Home Affairs kept finding to fend off the best sprinter in the world and further solidify the fact that he is the best up-and-coming sprinter in the land. Arguably Nature Strip’s run into second when beaten a nose will go down as one of the great runs in Group 1 sprinting history without winning.
- Star jockey Jamie Kah proved the key to coaxing the best out of the enigmatic Nature Strip when she combined with the superstar sprinter to win the Black Caviar Lightning. The six-year-old Gelding jumped well and gained enough traction beside leader Pippie that he could hold the lead ahead of second place September Run who was making the break down the outside to re-write the wrongs from 2020.
- It looked to be a one act affair in the 2020 Lightning Stakes with superstar sprinter Nature Strip jumping as a $1.35 favourite. However, it was the Gordon Richards trained Gytrash who produced an electric turn of foot to claim the 2020 Lightning Stakes and put to bed a small field of proven Group 1 superstars. Nature Strip was in strife early on after racing keenly throughout, and with the leader Redzel there for the taking over the final furlong, Gytrash stormed past the former Everest champion and got the job done quite comfortably in the end by a length.
- The market was having a tough time discerning who should be the 2019 Lightning Stakes favourite, with Sunlight jumping as the $3.20 top elect. The fav made the early pace too, looking to lead from start to finish but as the champion filly wilted in the final stages it was In Her Time that took the front and ran strongly to the line. Godolphin sprinter Osborne Bulls charged home late and only narrowly missed out as In Her Time gripped on for a powerful win.
- Terravista won the Lightning a year ago and was arguably unlucky not to win in 2016 when beaten in a photo finish. Eyes were on Terravista to go back-to-back however it was Redkirk Warrior that stormed home in the final stages to record an outstanding victory in the 2018 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington this afternoon. It was Super Too that took up the running and Kerrin McEvoy on Redzel was happy to trail her into the race, while Redkirk Warrior was settled at the tail of the field. Redzel looked the winner when he hit the front at the 250 metre mark, but Redkirk Warrior showed a staggering acceleration in the final stages to steal victory in the shadows of the post.
- It was one of the more eventful Lightning Stakes in the race’s history with Terravista ($15) coming from last to first to win the group 1 race. Another Sydney horse Spieth ($6) finished second, but it was a pre-race incident that added to the drama. The usually quiet horse The Quarterback threw his jockey off and went to the ground and lashed out at horses around him, with the large crowd holding its breath only for jockey Matt Allen to jump to his feet fine. Subsequently The Quarterback, Faatinah and Orujo were all withdrawn from the race. Star Turn ($4) managed to hold on for third. It was a brilliant result for Terravista, who at one time was regarded as the world’s best sprinter, but has been beset by injury woes in the last few years. Read full report.
- Chautauqua solidified its status as one of the world’s best sprinters when taking out the 2016 Lightning Stakes. The Hawkes-trained start was the short favourite to win the sprint and it only narrowly scored the prize by a nose over Terravista and Japonisme in third. It ran a quick time of 57.02 for the 1000m and it would later win the T.J. Smith Stakes and The Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong.
- Lankan Rupee scored one of the most impressive Lightning Stakes wins in 2015. The Mick Price-trained gelding exploded in the straight to win by almost three lengths over the likes of Brazen Beau and race-favourite Deep Field. The son of Redoute’s Choice was a well-backed runner at $2.60 and it gave jockey Craig Newitt his second win in the race.
- The 2014 edition of the Lightning Stakes was one of the most even betting fields where Snitzerland was victorious. The Gerald Ryan-trained mare jumped well for jockey Brenton Avdulla before being taken on in the lead. It was pushed forward at the 300m and it had a big enough break to hold off the closing Shamexpress and Samaready. Snitzerland paid $5 with bookmakers with the disappointing effort coming from third favourite Bernabeau which finished last.
- The mighty Black Caviar made it three consecutive Lightning Stakes wins in 2013. The six-year-old mare controlled the race from the outset before jockey Luke Nolen asked the champion to extend. Black Caviar burst clear at the 200m and put 2.5 lengths on the rest of the field at the finish. The Lightning Stakes was one of Black Caviar’s last races and although punters didn’t get rich taking the $1.10 on offer, the victory will remain one of the greatest in the sprint’s history.
- The 2012 Lightning Stakes was one of the best fields assembled and Black Caviar made them look second rate. The daughter of Bel Esprit won by 1.8 lengths at short odds of $1.10 and it defeated the likes of Hay List, Buffering, Foxwedge, Temple Of Boom and Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready. Black Caviar also won in 2011 which kicked off a three-year domination.
Black Caviar Lightning past winners list
| Black Caviar Lightning Past Winners | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2024 | Imperatriz | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker |
| 2023 | Coolangatta | Jamie Kah | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 2022 | Home Affairs | James McDonald | Chris Waller |
| 2021 | Nature Strip | Jamie Kah | Chris Waller |
| 2020 | Gytrash | Mark Zahra | Gordon Richards |
| 2019 | In Her Time | Corey Brown | Kris Lees |
| 2018 | Redkirk Warrior | Regan Bayliss | David Hayes |
| 2017 | Terravista | Corey Brown | Joseph Pride |
| 2016 | Chautauqua | Dwayne Dunn | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 2015 | Lankan Rupee | Craig Newitt | Mick Price |
| 2014 | Snitzerland | Brenton Avdulla | Gerald Ryan |
| 2013 | Black Caviar | Luke Nolen | Peter G Moody |
| 2012 | Black Caviar | Luke Nolen | Peter G Moody |
| 2011 | Black Caviar | Luke Nolen | Peter G Moody |
| 2010 | Nicconi | Damien Oliver | David Hayes |
| 2009 | Scenic Blast | Steven Arnold | Daniel Morton |
| 2008 | Apache Cat | Corey Brown | Greg Eurell |
| 2007 | Miss Andretti | Craig Newitt | Lee Freedman |
| 2006 | Takeover Target | Jay Ford | Joe Janiak |
| 2005 | Fastnet Rock | Glen Boss | Paul Perry |
| 2004 | Regimental Gal | Steven King | Shaun Dwyer |
| 2003 | Choisir | Glen Boss | Paul Perry |
| 2002 | Spinning Hill | Steven Arnold | Guy Walter |
| 2001 | Sports | Darren Gauci | John Hawkes |
| 2000 | Testa Rossa | Damien Oliver | Dean Lawson |
Black Caviar Lightning Past Winners Pre 2000
| Lightning Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Horse | ||
| 1999 | Isca | ||
| 1998 | General Nediym | ||
| 1997 | Mahogany | ||
| 1996 | Gold Ace | ||
| 1995 | Mahogany | ||
| 1994 | Keltrice | ||
| 1993 | Schillaci | ||
| 1992 | Schillaci | ||
| 1991 | Shaftesbury Avenue | ||
| 1990 | Redelva | ||
| 1989 | Zeditave | ||
| 1988 | Special | ||
| 1987 | Placid Ark | ||
| 1986 | Hula Chief | ||
| 1985 | River Rough | ||
| 1984 | River Rough | ||
| 1983 | Demus | ||
| 1982 | He’s A Haze | ||
| 1981 | Countess Marizza | ||
| 1980 | Sportscast | ||
| 1979 | The Judge | ||
| 1978 | Maybe Mahal | ||
| 1977 | Maybe Mahal | ||
| 1976 | Desirable | ||
| 1975 | Cap D’antibes | ||
| 1974 | Century | ||
| 1973 | Make Mine Roses | ||
| 1972 | Zambari | ||
| 1971 | Dual Choice | ||
| 1970 | Black Onyx | ||
| 1969 | Mister Hush | ||
| 1968 | Begonia Belle | ||
| 1967 | Storm Queen | ||
| 1966 | Citius | ||
| 1965 | Marmion | ||
| 1964 | Wenona Girl | ||
| 1963 | Wenona Girl | ||
| 1962 | Sky High | ||
| 1961 | Sky High | ||
| 1960 | Todman | ||
| 1959 | Ritmar | ||
| 1958 | Misting | ||
| 1957 | Copper Year | ||
| 1956 | Apple Bay | ||
| 1955 | Gay Vista | ||
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