Flemington Racing: 2017 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Betting Tips

The Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is the feature race at Flemington today and has attracted a star-studded field.

There’s only four Group 1 winners in the field, but we have three of the most promising sprinters in the country engaged here along with some of the big boys from years gone by.

The rail at Flemington is out 9m today so it wouldn’t surprise me to see horses heading towards the outside rail here, but we’ll know more from the two straight races earlier in the day.

The pace really does look to be pretty hot here, and I’d expect Faatinah to run the race to suit him out the front, which is fast. Flamberge will be up on the speed, as will Illustrious Lad, Heatherly and Star Turn. So with a number of speed horses in the field, I think we’ll see this run at a decent tempo.

With that in mind, the race looks to be perfectly set up for Flying Artie, who looks to be the most exciting sprinter in the country. I won’t say he won the Coolmoore easily, but he did it pretty comfortably and that was a red hot field he beat in a very good time. From the draw he might just sit off the pace like he did that day and charge over the top of them, but my only query is the 1000m. I think we’ll see him at his best over 1200m and beyond this prep, so my query is whether he is sharp enough to win first up over the shorter trip.

The same query applies for Spieth, who is also one of the more exciting sprinters in the country after his luckless defeat to Malaguerra in the Darley Classic during the Spring. He was absolutely slaughtered that day and the booking of Bowman is a huge plus, but he’s never run over 1000m before which is a slight worry. I think he’s certainly good enough to win this, but perhaps his best will be over 1200m too.

For those reasons I am leaning towards the other 3YO colt Star Turn, who I think will be sharp enough to win first up over 1000m. This colt is seriously good, and although he was beaten comfortably by Flying Artie in the Darley, I think he might be able to hang on over 1000m if he has a few lengths head start. He bolted in first up last prep and I think he might just win again here.

The big unknown in the race is Supido, who is first up from a 273 day spell. This horse is undefeated down the Flemington straight and has won 4 of his 5 races when first up from a spell. The last time we saw him he ran 3rd to Black Heart Bart in a Group 1 and if he is tuned up for this he may just beat them all over 1000m. The wide draw could be very beneficial.

Terravista and The Quarterback are two of the older brigade that can’t be ruled out. Both have great records over the track and distance and are 1000m specialists, and both are Group 1 winners down the Flemington straight.

Siding with Star Turn but not confident at all here. This is a red hot race and an extremely exciting one at that.

1st STAR TURN
2nd FLYING ARTIE
3rd SPIETH
4th SUPIDO