Black Caviar Lightning
Looking for this year’s Black Caviar Lightning betting odds, tips and form guide? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before the race.
black caviar lightning 2025 RESULTS
The official 2025 Black Caviar Lightning results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday February 15, 2025.
- #9 Skybird
- #8 Stretan Angel
- #7 Benedetta
The 2025 Black Caviar Lightning winner was the Mitchell Freedman trained four-year-old Exosphere mare Skybird ($26) who drove through from last to first to become the race’s longest-priced winner in the 71-year history of the event.
Black Caviar Lightning 2025 Odds
Early market betting odds on the 2025 Black Caviar Lightning will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit neds.com.au.
Registered as the Lighting Stakes, the Black Caviar Lighting is run over a short 1,000 metres each February at Flemington Racecourse. Offering $1,000,000 in prize money the event attracts a star line-up of early season sprinters, many of which contested the previous spring’s $20 million The Everest in Sydney.
In 2022 the previous year’s The Everest champion Nature Strip ran second in an upset 2021 Black Caviar Lightning result after missing the kick.
This race can be seen as an excellent lead in to the 1,200 metre Newmarket Handicap, which takes place in March and Black Caviar (2011), Lankan Rupee (2014), Redkirk Warrior (2018) and all recently completed the Lightning Stakes – Newmarket Group 1 double at HQ.
In 2021 the reigning Australian Horse of the Year Nature Strip won the Black Caviar Lightning and continued on to add a host of other top level wins to his incredible sprint record including that year’s The Everest.
Nature Strip returned to run second in the 2022 Black Caviar Lightning behind his stablemate Home Affairs in an upset before going on to win Sydney’s Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes for a record-equalling third time and dominate Royal Ascot’s Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes in the UK by over five lengths.
In 2023 Nature Strip returned as the odds-on favourite only to run a disappointing sixth behind gun filly Coolangatta in the Black Caviar Lightning results.
Skybird became the longest-priced Black Caviar Lightning Stakes winner in the race’s 71-year history when winning at $26 in 2025!
Black Caviar Lightning 2025 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday February 15, 2025
- Track Location: Flemington Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 1,000 metres
- Weight Conditions: Weight for age
- Qualification: Open
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 1
- Operator: Victoria Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $1,000,000
- Inaugural Race: 1955
- 2025 Black Caviar Lightning Winner: Skybird
Black Caviar Lightning Betting 2025
There are many different ways to bet on the Black Caviar Lightning, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type Of Bet In This Year’s Black Caviar Lightning |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Black Caviar Lightning. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Black Caviar Lightning. Pays less than a win bet, but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Black Caviar Lightning, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Black Caviar Lightning, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Black Caviar Lightning to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Black Caviar Lightning to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Black Caviar Lightning to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Black Caviar Lightning, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet On The Black Caviar Lightning
- Log in at neds.com.au
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Black Caviar Lightning Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win The Black Caviar Lightning
The best way to pick which horse will win the Black Caviar Lightning in 2025 is to take into account their lead-up autumn racing form, past Group 1 sprint stars, previous performers from earlier years in the same event and those with a good record at the famous Flemington track.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Black Caviar Lightning winner include:
- Super Sprint – The 1000m is best suited to short distance specialists with even 1200m horses sometimes finding the sprint too sharp.
- First-Up Factor – Horses racing first-up have an outstanding record in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Home Affairs (2022), Coolangatta (2023), Imperatriz (2024), and Skybird (2025) are the latest first-up Black Caviar Lightning winners. Home Affairs and Coolangatta meanwhile were both three-year-olds who had their previous run in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at the track the November before with Home Affairs doing the double and Coolangatta improving on a fifth in the 1200m event.
- Inside Alleys – History shows the majority of winners have started from barrier nine or less in the race.
- Group 1 Horses – Proven Group 1 sprinters have dominated this race in the past 30 plus years.
Black Caviar Lightning Favourites 2025
Early favourites in 2025 Black Caviar Lightning betting include Chris Waller’s Coolmore Stud Stakes winning colt Switzerland, the Ciaron Maher-trained The Everest placegetter Growing Empire, and the Godolphin raced son of Street Boss Traffic Warden.
From 2006 – 2025 seven Black Caviar Lightning favourites saluted for the punters most recently Imperatriz ($1.60 in 2024).
Black Caviar Lightning 2025 Field
The official 2025 Black Caviar Lightning field of final acceptances is announced on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The Black Caviar Lightning 2025 field features a smart line-up of autumn sprinters including Chris Waller’s class colt Switzerland racing for the first time since his Coolmore Stud Stakes win here in the spring and early market mover I Am Me also first-up for Ciaron Maher.
Black Caviar Lightning 2025 Tips
Favourite: #11 Switzerland ($2.90 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Best Bet: #11 Snitzerland to salute for the punters (see above) – BET NOW
Best Roughie: #1 Mazu ($19 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Our insider 2025 Black Caviar Lightning tips will be detailed above the week of the race and a full betting preview published on the Neds Blog.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2025 BLACK CAVIAR LIGHTNING PREVIEW & TIPS
Black Caviar Lightning Race Day 2025
Black Caviar Lightning Day 2025 takes place at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday February 15, 2025. There are two Group 3 support acts on the card with the running of the:
- Group 3 $200,000 C.S. Hayes Stakes (1400m), and the
- Group 3 $200,000 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m).
Black Caviar Lightning Barrier Draw 2025
The 2025 Black Caviar Lightning barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and will be published in our above Black Caviar Lightning Field section.
Black Caviar Lightning Nominations 2025
2025 Black Caviar Lightning Nominations close at 12 PM on the Monday of race week.
The Black Caviar Lightning 2025 nominations attracted 15 smart sprinters led in all-in betting by Chris Waller’s returning Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winning colt Switzerland and the Ciaron Maher trained Zoustar three-year-old Growing Empire who ran third in The Everest and Coolmore last prep.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 34x441318x | BENEDETTA | M | 5 | Jason Warren | 111 |
| 2 | 1x251x | ESPIONAGE | C | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 84 |
| 3 | 211x11233x | GROWING EMPIRE | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 110 |
| 4 | x3x172211x | HEADWALL | G | 5 | Matthew Smith | 95 |
| 5 | x344x1109x | I AM ME | M | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 112 |
| 6 | 1150x1141x | ISTHMUS | M | 4 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 96 |
| 7 | 4x17x101x3 | JOYFUL FORTUNE | G | 8 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 99 |
| 8 | 0172x3254x | MAZU | G | 6 | Joseph Pride | 111 |
| 9 | 53x511173x | MORNINGTON GLORY | G | 6 | Gavin Bedggood | 110 |
| 10 | 39×5404321 | PHILOSOPHER | G | 5 | Enver Jusufovic | 90 |
| 11 | x519x2370x | SKYBIRD | M | 4 | Mitchell Freedman | 99 |
| 12 | 4262x6384x | STRETAN ANGEL | M | 4 | Phillip Stokes | 106 |
| 13 | 1118x911x | SWITZERLAND | C | 3 | Chris Waller | 111 |
| 14 | 38142x120x | TRAFFIC WARDEN | C | 3 | James Cummings | 104 |
| 15 | 216x33971x | WAY TO THE STARS | G | 6 | Matthew Smith | 100 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Black Caviar Lightning Weights 2025
Standard weight for age conditions apply to this race. Final 2025 Black Caviar Lightning Weights are announced at 4 PM on the Monday of race week with weights on the final acceptances to be published in our above Black Caviar Lightning Field section.
Black Caviar Lightning Acceptances 2025
2025 Black Caviar Lightning Final Acceptances must be declared before 9:30 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Black Caviar Lightning Field section.
Black Caviar Lightning Jockeys 2025
The final riders announcement is at 1 PM on the Wednesday of race week with the confirmed 2025 Black Caviar Lightning Jockeys to be published in our above Black Caviar Lightning Field section.
Black Caviar Lightning Scratchings 2025
2025 Black Caviar Lightning scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday the 15th of February 2025.
Black Caviar Lightning Prize Money 2025
The 2025 Black Caviar Lightning prize purse is worth $1,000,000 in total, distributed from places first through to eighth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $600,000 |
| 2nd | $180,000 |
| 3rd | $90,000 |
| 4th | $45,000 |
| 5th | $25,000 |
| 6th | $20,000 |
| 7th | $20,000 |
| 8th | $20,000 |
Black Caviar Lightning Race Number 2025
The 2025 Black Caviar Lightning race number is scheduled as Flemington Race 8 at 4:15pm (AEDT) on Saturday February 15, 2025. There are ten races in total that day at Flemington Racecourse.
Black Caviar Lightning Form Guide 2025
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2025 Black Caviar Lightning Form Guide following final acceptances.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 BLACK CAVIAR LIGHTNING FORM GUIDE
Black Caviar Lightning Live 2025
You can watch or listen to the 2025 Black Caviar Lightning live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Free to air television: Channels 78 (and 68 in regional areas)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
Black Caviar Lightning Winners
Winners of the Black Caviar Lightning / Lightning Stakes going back to the year 2000 are displayed in the table below. For a more complete list of previous Lightning Stakes winners from 1955 – the present visit our Black Caviar Lightning winners page here.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Skybird | Mitchell Freedman | John Allen | 56.5kg | 0:59.05 |
| 2024 | Imperatriz | Mark Walker | Opie Bosson | 56.5kg | 0:57.54 |
| 2023 | Coolangatta | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Ms Jamie Kah | 53.5kg | 0:56.46 |
| 2022 | Home Affairs | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 55.5kg | 0:56.64 |
| 2021 | Nature Strip | Chris Waller | Ms Jamie Kah | 58.5kg | 0:56.91 |
| 2020 | Gytrash | Gordon Richards | Mark Zahra | 58.5kg | 0:57.53 |
| 2019 | In Her Time | Kris Lees | Corey Brown | 56.5kg | 0:56.69 |
| 2018 | Redkirk Warrior | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Regan Bayliss | 58.5kg | 0:56.33 |
| 2017 | Terravista | Joseph Pride | Corey Brown | 58.5kg | 0:57.26 |
| 2016 | Chautauqua | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | 58.5kg | 0:57.02 |
| 2015 | Lankan Rupee | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 58.5kg | 0:56.29 |
| 2014 | Snitzerland | Gerald Ryan | Brenton Avdulla | 56.5kg | 0:57.16 |
| 2013 | Black Caviar | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 56.5kg | 0:55.42 |
| 2012 | Black Caviar | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 56.5kg | 0:55.53 |
| 2011 | Black Caviar | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 56.5kg | 0:57.20 |
| 2010 | Nicconi | David Hayes | Damien Oliver | 58.5kg | 0:57.12 |
| 2009 | Scenic Blast | Daniel Morton | Steven Arnold | 58.5kg | 0:56.94 |
| 2008 | Apache Cat | Greg Eurell | Corey Brown | 58.5kg | 0:57.25 |
| 2007 | Miss Andretti | Lee Freedman | Craig Newitt | 56kg | 0:57.22 |
| 2006 | Takeover Target | Joe Janiak | Jay Ford | 57.5kg | 0:56.80 |
| 2005 | Fastnet Rock | Paul Perry | Glen Boss | 54.5kg | 0:57.37 |
| 2004 | Regimental Gal | Shaun Dwyer | Steven King | 52kg | 0:57.02 |
| 2003 | Choisir | Paul Perry | Glen Boss | 54.5kg | 0:56.63 |
| 2002 | Spinning Hill | Guy Walter | Steven Arnold | 55kg | 0:57.15 |
| 2001 | Sports | John Hawkes | Darren Gauci | 57.5kg | 0:57.02 |
| 2000 | Testa Rossa | Dean Lawson | Damien Oliver | 54.5kg | 0:56.04 |