Lightning Strike–Imperatriz wins again

Imperatriz winning the 2024 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes

Over the past decade I have attended Lightning Stakes Day at Flemington many times.

This year with super star sprinter Imperatriz being set to run, it was a no brainer to be present again, so I headed off to the big track last Saturday for the event.

Happily it was a sunny day, quite warm in fact, and I arrived at the track shortly after 1.00 pm and was in plenty of time to get to my favourite possie on the fence to witness the Talindert Stakes, a race for two year olds over 1100 metres.

The bizarrely named Aardvark won the race by a little over length with Reasonable Point and Bittercreek running the minor places.

Aardvark wins the Talindert Stakes

I gave Race 4 a miss and decided to visit the stalls area to get a photo of Imperatriz.

Imperatriz in her stall looking bright & beautiful

Race 5 was the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes, run over 1400 metres for fillies and mares.

Revolutionary Miss who I recall witnessing winning the Blue Diamond Prelude in 2022, proved the winner in this race, narrowly beating Forbidden City and Fortunate Kiss.

Revolutionary Miss wins the Frances Tressady Stakes from Forbidden City

The the Group 3 Vanity was next up and Grizinger Belle, who led from the start, prevailed to win comfortably from French Endeavour and Mollyknickers.

Grizinger Belle wins The Vanity

The colts equivalent of The Vanity, the C S Hayes Stakes, followed and 2023 Victorian Derby winner, Riff Rocket, surprised everyone with a solid victory, running from the tail of the field to overtake King Colorado and score the bickies. Verdad ran third.

Riff Rocket wins the C S Hayes Stakes

Riff Rocket on his way to barriers

Flemington was in Carnival mode with a small band entertaining the crowd and stilt walkers cruising the public lawn.

Stilt walker posing for photograph.

It wasn’t all that crowded last Saturday so it was easy to get around when seeking shade from the sun.

The feature event was of course the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning. It was renamed in Black Caviar’s honour in 2013 to recognise her dominance in the event. She won it three years consecutively from 2011 to 2013.

Imperatriz was the hot favourite this year and she won by a short margin after overtaking Private Eye in the straight.

Imperatriz returns to scale

Calling it quits after the Black Caviar Lightning I headed home, pleased to have attended to have seen Imperatriz win yet again.

Her next race I assume will be the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley in late March – I’ve already  purchased a ticket!.

Next Saturday I plan to go to the Blue Diamond Stakes meeting at Caulfield.

Lightning Review–Home Affairs To the Fore

Black Caviar Lightning –Home Affairs leads with Nature Strip & Eduardo in hot pursuit

My arrival at Flemington on Saturday afternoon was earlier than I anticipated. This was due to the train timetable, where I erred on the side of caution rather than cutting fine my connection to the Flemington train at Southern Cross Station.

Not to worry, I at least got to see Race 3, the Vale Jack Styring Trophy, a race over 1600 metres, and could practice  photography before the real action began.

The unbeaten mare Yonce having only her fourth start was the warm favourite and she won easily from Groovy Kinda Love and Divine Diosa , running from the back of the field to overtake the leaders.

Yonce (blue silks) challenges Divine Diosa (pink)

The Talindert Stakes was up next but before that was set to run I sauntered up to the stalls area to see who had arrived.

Several of the sprinters engaged in the Lightning Stakes were already in their stalls…

Eduardo

Gytrash

The Inferno

The three above were in proximity to each other in the first section of the stalls area, so I didn’t bother heading to the back stalls area, returning to my spot on the fence to see the two year olds run in the Talindert Stakes.

In all the Blue Diamond build up races there has been a different winner each time, not any of the two year olds contesting those races repeating the feat in another race. This makes assessing the actual Blue Diamond Stakes quite tricky with no stand out performers evident.

Such was the case in the Talindert with filly I’mlovin’ya winning the prize from Waltz On By and Lamda at her second start.

I’mlovin’ya  (pink)  about to overtake Waltz On By to win the Talindert Stakes

It was a pleasant sunny day at Flemington, hot in the sun, but I found a cool spot to have sit between races in the Elms area.

The Group 3 Vanity Stakes was next to run.  A race for three year old  fillies it is run over 1400 metres.

Barb Raider was the favourite and she didn’t disappoint her backers winning from a fast finishing Cardigan Queen with race leader Ancient Girl hanging on for third.

Barb Raider (lime)) Ancient Girl (pink) & Cardigan Queen (red cap)

Barb Raider on her way to the barriers

Cardigan Queen returns to scale

Then there was only one more race to run before the highly anticipated Black Caviar Lightning and this was the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes, also run over 1400 metres for Guineas bound colts and geldings.

Pretty boy Lightsaber started as favourite but he played up in the barriers and was subsequently scratched.  Pascero lead the field for most of the race and put a good gap on the chasers, but a swooping runs from Pinstriped overtook him on the line. Captivant finished third.

Pinstriped (no 7) wins the C S Hayes Stakes from Pascero

Pinstriped returns to scale

Pascero  on his way to the barriers

Lightsaber on his way to the barriers- an exceptionally photogenic horse

The Black Caviar Lightning lived up to its hype, though not in a way that anyone envisaged.

From the start it was dramatic with Nature Strip’s lunge from the gate stymied by Profiteer who veered left into his trajectory, causing him to lose ground. Profiteer continued to  race erratically throughout most of the race, causing interference to several other runners . Nature Strip denied his usual style of taking the lead had to catch up to the leader, Home Affairs, who was unimpeded in his run.

As the winning post drew closer, Nature Strip was seen to be gaining ground and caught up to Home Affairs at the post, to lose by a whisker.  Eduardo, who was also hampered by Profiteer at the start, finished third.

Home Affairs returns to scale

Nature Strip returns to scale

Eduardo returns to scale

I did not tarry after the Lightning, heading for the station directly to catch the train.

Next Saturday I’m looking forward to returning to Caulfield for Blue Diamond Stakes Day.

The Black Caviar Lightning 2022

Nature Strip at Flemington 2020

Ten years ago unbeaten mare Black Caviar won her second Lightning Stakes. She would win it again in 2013 when the race was renamed in her honour to the Black Caviar Lightning.

Last year due to Covid restrictions the general public were not permitted to attend the meeting, so I missed seeing Nature Strip, under the guidance of top female jockey, Jamie Ka, win the race.

Jamie Ka will be riding Nature Strip tomorrow, his regular jockey James McDonald opting to ride three year old Home Affairs in the race.

The 2022 Black Caviar Lightning is being touted as the best ever edition of the race owing to the field of nine top sprinters all kicking off their autumn season at the same time. My heart will be with the beautiful Nature Strip, but he faces stiff competition from regular rivals such as Eduardo, Masked Crusader and Gytrash. Throw in wild cards like The Inferno and three year old speedsters Home Affairs and Profiteer and you’ve got a thriller of a race.

I’m glad that I will be at Flemington tomorrow to witness the event.

It has been almost a year since I was last at Flemington, so I’m looking forward to getting back to the big track for first class racing action again.

Happily the weather  is forecast to be mostly sunny and a pleasant 24°C with light winds.

As well as the Black Caviar Lightning there are two Group 3 races, these being the Vanity Stakes for three year old fillies and the C S Hayes Stakes for three year old colts and geldings.

I intend to arrive at Flemington in time to watch the two year old babies contest the  Listed Talindert Stakes.

Unlike last week it won’t be an overlong afternoon at the races, the Black Caviar Lightning being scheduled as Race 7 and run at 4.25 pm, which gives me plenty of time to catch the first train back to the city at 4.51pm.

Happy Retirement Probabeel!

Probabeel at Caulfield 2021 on her way to winning the Group 1 Futurity Stakes

The disappointing news this week was that wonderful New Zealand mare Probabeel has run her last race and has been retired after suffering a suspensory ligament injury.

She was a grand race mare who raced in top company and won four Group 1 races, beating first class fields.

I’m glad I got to see her win her final race last week, but she will be missed as she always  added a bit of class to any race day where she was set to run.

We can always look forward to seeing her progeny racing a few years hence.

Orr Stakes Day–10 years on and counting

Black Caviar – Orr Stakes Day 2012

The first time I ever attended a race meeting at Caulfield was on Orr Stakes Day 2012, where Black Caviar was the main attraction. It was her first and only attempt at racing over 1400 metres.

Of course she won the 2012 Orr Stakes easily, leaving one to wonder how she would have fared racing up to a mile (1600 metres). I suspect she would have handled it just as well.

The Orr Stakes is the first Group 1 race of the Autumn Racing Season, so naturally I will be in attendance for what looks a super race day with the Blue Diamond Preludes also being on the program, and the rest of the rest of support card being quite interesting.

As I’m intending to arrive in time for the Blue Diamond Preludes (races 3 and 4)  and stay for race 9, the Bellmaine Stakes to see favourite mare Probabeel attempt a back to back win, it’s going to be a long afternoon trackside.

Probabeel winning the 2021 Bellmaine Stakes

Fortunately the weather is forecast to be warm and sunny tomorrow; a bearable 29°C with light winds.

The feature race is scheduled as Race 8 and has attracted a classy field with the likes of I’m Thunderstruck, Behemoth, Tofane, Sierra Sue, Inspirational Girl and Lighthouse all in the mix. I’m looking forward to seeing once again in the flesh the handsome Peter Moody trained colt Lightsaber. 

Irish import Sinawann is the current favourite with Behemoth highly fancied as well.

Caulfield Cup 2020

Mer De Glace – winner of the 2019 Caulfield Cup

The weather on Caulfield Cup Day last year was intemperate – cold, wet and windy – and it appears that this year’s edition will also be run on a soft track under similar conditions.

Not that it matters to me as the Covid 19 pandemic has prevented public attendance at the races all spring. It’s remarkable that racing has continued all through the pandemic with very little drama in the way of biosecurity breaches.

Caulfield Guineas Day last week was fantastic, as interesting as you’d expect during the pointy end of the Spring Racing Carnival. The highly regarded short priced favourite Russian Camelot was defeated by Western Australian mare Arcadia Queen in the Caulfield Stakes, Black Caviar’s close relation Ole Kirk won the feature race, and in Sydney, star filly Montefilia beat the boys in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes.

As well as the Caulfield Cup tomorrow, Randwick features the fourth running of The Everest, where a choice field of top sprinters compete for a share in the $15 million prize money.

A full field of 18 runners will be contesting the Caulfield Cup,  and as is the norm these days, comprise a bunch of International challengers along with seasoned imports and local stayers.

The top International is Anthony Van Dyck who has excellent form in Europe having performed meritoriously against top stayers, such as Stradivarious and Gaiyyath.

Of the imports, those with a good chance are Mirage Dancer, Finche and Master of Wine.

Isn’t it about time for a mare to win?

There are three of the fairer sex engaged in the race, most notably Verry Elleegant who has been in great form this spring. She won the Group 1 Winx Stakes, then came to Melbourne and took out the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at her last start, beating her stablemates Toffee Tongue and Finche.

Toffee Tongue won the South Australian Oaks in the autumn, and ran a close second to Verry Elleegant in the Turnbull Stakes. She’s a great lightweight chance in the Caulfield Cup and is bred to stay the distance. The other mare is True Self whom I witnessed winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Mackinnon Stakes Day last spring.

Verry Elleegant – Caulfield Cup Day 2018

Verry Elleegant is the current favourite for the Caulfield Cup, and she could well win the bikkies, especially if the track is on the heavy side.

The Everest will be run an hour before the Caulfield Cup at 4.15 pm and has a super field that includes Nature Strip, Gytrash, Classique Legend, Behemoth and Bivouac as top chances, along with speedy mare Libertini who thrashed Classique Legend at her last start in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes.  It’s a must watch race.

So that’s what I’ll be doing tomorrow; i.e. watching the races.

On the reading front I must mention a recent read, that being Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession. It’s a brilliantly written, immensely likeable novel about two middle aged guys who lead very low profile lives, introverts uncomfortable with  the noisy world at large.  I loved it and highly recommend it for a sublimely pleasant reading experience. It is laugh out loud in parts as well. It outshone the new Rose Tremain novel Islands of Mercy, and has made my current read, The Midnight Library  by Matt Haig, less than satisfying so far, the quality of writing not being a patch on Ronan Hession.

As for games, nothing much to report other than occasionally engaging with The Shade in The Longing. I’m running out of things to do with The Shade having explored all the caves and have even found the secret places beyond the darkness.

Update Sunday

I’m pleased to see that my preview of the Caulfield Cup was pretty accurate with Verry Elleegant putting in a gutsy performance to win, beating the highly regarded International Anthony Van Dyck, who charged from the back of the field to miss by half a length. Long shot The Chosen One ran third. Interestingly, Zabeel is the grandsire of both Verry Elleegant and The Chosen One, so the old Zabeel factor still rules the staying ranks in Australian horse racing

Classique Legend won The Everest with Bivouac and Gytrash filling the minor placings.

Al and The Cat and Black Caviar

Alligator Blood wins the CS Hayes Stakes from Catalyst

It was a shame about the weather, which was truly atrocious, but the racing action was superlative last Saturday at Flemington.

A drizzly fine rain was leaking from the sky as I set out for Flemington from Ivanhoe, and was pretty much the same out west at the big track for most of the afternoon.

Upon arrival I headed directly for the Western Lawn to my usual photography spot just past the finishing post. Race 3, the Talindert Stakes was set to run, so I captured the action as best I could  in the conditions. Black Caviar’s cousin Ole Kirk kicked off his career with a win and paid big odds of over $30.00. He beat Nitrous and favourite Mildred by a narrow margin.

Ole Kirk (no. 12) noses out Nitrous on the line

Ole Kirk returns to scale after winning the Talindert Stakes

The fine rain created a misty haze on the photo above, but otherwise the afternoon light was quite lovely as a contrast to bright sunlight.

After the Talindert I headed off to the stalls area to see who had arrived.

Alligator Blood was in his stall looking super confident…

Alligator Blood

…and Catalyst was being groomed in his stall.

Catalyst

Also present were the special Living Legends equine guests, champion greys Efficient and Fawkner.

Efficient

Fawkner

Further along was the hot favourite for the Black Caviar Lightning, Nature Strip…

Nature Strip

…and Loving Gaby.

Loving Gaby

Back trackside it was almost time for race 4, the Ebor Trophy, a race over 2000 metres for middle distance runners and not terribly interesting over all.

It resulted with Salsamor narrowly winning from Skelm and Classic Wei Wei.

Ebor Trophy finish – Salsamor has the lime green & blue silks

With time to kill before the highly anticipated CS Hayes Stakes we headed back to the mounting yard to grab a prime spot. Efficient and Fawkner were parading around as their illustrious careers were displayed on the big screen.

Efficient

Fawkner

Soon enough the field for the CS Hayes Stakes were filing into the mounting yard.

Alligator Blood

Catalyst

Chenier

Dalasan

Soul Patch

Yourdeel

The 2020  CS Hayes Stakes lived up to expectations and was the highlight of the afternoon racing program. A terrific race, with Alligator Blood and Catalyst racing side by side from the start with Alligator Blood having a slight lead over Catalyst. As they turned into the straight, the real competition began as they upped the tempo, going head to head to the finish line, Alligator Blood winning by a nose. It was classic stuff reminiscent of the great two horse duels of the past – Our Waverley Star vs Bonecrusher, Testa Rossa vs Redoute’s Choice are two that come to mind. Chenier finished third a length behind.

Alligator Blood returns to scale

Catalyst on his way to the barriers

Chenier returns to scale

Catalyst and Alligator Blood meet again in a fortnight in the Group 1 Australian Guineas and Super Seth will be there as well.

Race 6 was a sprint, the Royal Ascot Handicap and was won by Sirius Suspect from Taniko and Prezado.

Sirius Suspect (yellow silks) wins the Royal Ascot Handicap from Taniko

After the Royal Ascot  we dashed back to the mounting yard as Black Caviar was scheduled to parade after the post race 6 ceremonies and we wanted to get a front fence position.

Though the crowds were down at Flemington last Saturday, no doubt due to the weather, everyone converged on the mounting yard for the great mare’s arrival and the crowd was three deep on the fence. We were lucky enough to score a special poster of Black Caviar being handed out behind us.

Black Caviar’s appearance was heralded by flag bearers who stood around the mounting yard until her connections were in place then marched off elsewhere.

Flags herald Black Caviar’s appearance

I took over a hundred photos of Black Caviar I reckon. Continuous shooting tends to result in a surfeit of shots, but I saved 50 as they were mostly alright and I couldn’t decide what to keep and what to discard.

Black Caviar parade 1

Black Caviar parade 2

Black Caviar parade 3 – Peter Moody offers the mare a carrot

Black Caviar parade 4 – the great mare surveys her old kingdom

Black Caviar parade 5 – not more photographers!

She paraded around the mounting yard for quite some time, doing at least three circuits. She looked extremely well, her coat dappled and glowing with health and it was great to see her again after a 7 year hiatus.

She had no sooner left the mounting yard than the Black Caviar Lightning field were making their way thence.

Loving Gaby

Nature Strip

Redzel

Gytrash

Nature Strip was the short odds favourite for the Black Caviar Lightning, but ended unplaced after over-racing on the wrong side of the track (outer rail) and tiring before the finish. Loving Gaby who also raced along the outer rail finished third. However, the winner Gytrash, raced along the inner rail with Redzel, hot on his heels, running second. Luckily I focussed my camera on the inside rail so got a photo of the finish.

Black Caviar Lightning finish – Gytrash heads off Redzel as they approach the finish line.

Gytrash returns to scale

As trains back to the city were running again I headed home after the Black Caviar Lightning.

It had been a better than usual race meeting despite the less than perfect weather but worth it to see Alligator Blood and Catalyst fight out the CS Hayes Stakes.

Next Saturday is Blue Diamond Stakes Day at Caulfield with the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate and especially the Futurity Stakes being sterling accompaniments to the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.

Hopefully the weather will be more clement next week.