The Black Caviar Lightning, formerly known as the Lightning Stakes, is a Group 1 sprint race held at Flemington Racecourse during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival. It takes place down the Flemington straight over 1000m and is run under weight-for-age conditions. The race is generally staged in the month of February.
Horses of all ages can contest the Black Caviar Lightning; the 2019 edition taken out by the Kris Lees-trained In Her Time saw a two-year-old filly compete. Jedastar was allocated 44kg in the race but failed to beat a runner home.
In 2019, the Black Caviar Lightning had prize money worth $750,000 with winning connections taking home $450,000. Prize money is paid down to eighth place with horses that finish sixth, seventh and eighth receiving $15,000 for their efforts.
Up until 2012, the race was known as the Lightning Stakes. It would then be called the Black Caviar Lightning in 2013 to honour unbeaten champion mare Black Caviar who had won the race in 2011 and 2012. She would then win her own race in 2013 to make it a hat-trick of wins in the event. She would race two more times before retiring with a perfect record of 25 victories.
The Black Caviar Lightning dates back to 1955 when Gay Vista captured the inaugural running over five furlongs. Just five years later, in 1960, champion racehorse Todman would claim the feature event. He would only lose twice in a 12-start career before becoming a successful stallion.
Sky High won the 1961 and 1962 editions as part of a Hall of Fame career that also saw him capture the Golden Slipper, Victoria Derby and Epsom Handicap – he won many other major Australian races but there are too many to list.
Straight after Sky High’s back-to-back successes, sensational mare Wenona Girl would win in 1963 and 1964. She would often have Sky High’s measure when they competed against one another.
Between 2005-2008, four star thoroughbreds would claim the Black Caviar Lightning with Fastnet Rock, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti and Apache Cat winning in that order. Chautauqua, a three-time TJ Smith Stakes winner, would win the 2016 edition of the Black Caviar Lightning to further enhance his claim as the best sprinter in Australia at the time.
Other notable winners of the Black Caviar Lightning include Storm Queen (1967), Placid Ark (1987), Redelva (1990), Shaftesbury Avenue (1991), Schillaci (1992-93), Mahogany (1995 & 1997), Gold Ace (1996), Choisir (2003), Scenic Blast (2009), Lankan Rupee (2015) and Redkirk Warrior (2018).
