We’re back to HQ on Saturday for a thrilling edition of Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Day.
It’s only the second Group 1 feature of the year, but good luck assembling a classier field than that of the 2021 Black Caviar Lightning – some of our best sprinters are engaged and it shapes as an intriguing betting race.
A preview of that contest, along with the other eight can be found in the complete 2021 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Day tips below.
Silent Sovereign charged in to score at Caulfield when resuming and will only be better second-up and out to a mile at Flemington on Saturday.
The Team McEvoy-trained mare has been a good horse for the stable throughout her career, winning in Group 3 company most notably last prep.
She has been charged with carry topweight but will get some relief with Will Price in the saddle, and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
Ingratiating has enjoyed a lovely start to her racing career, and the Talindert Stakes represents a nice bit of black type for her.
Ingratiating is yet to finish worse than second in three previous starts, winning the Maribyrnong Trial on debut and running second in both the Maribyrnong Plate and the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes in the wake; the latter behind Neds Blue Diamond favourite Enthaar.
This is a noticeable drop in class and she can return to winning form.
Regardsmaree has been flying this prep and he looks the runner to beat again in the third on Black Caviar Lightning Day.
The So You Think gelding has had four starts since transferring to the care of Nick Ryan and has clearly relished the move, winning three times, including a particularly impressive performance in BM88 company at Caulfield last week.
This is probably harder again, but I like that he’s on the short back-up and he’ll get every opportunity from barrier 6, and with just 54kgs in tow.
Coolth returned one of the better performances of his career to score here at Flemington last month and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be able to replicate that effort and result on Saturday.
The Dundeel gelding stamped himself as a runner to follow during his debut prep, and while he did need his first two starts back this time to tune-up, his third run suggested he’s found the right condition.
Getting out to 2000m suits and he is my best bet on the program.
The return of Oaks champion Personal is clearly the highlight of this year’s edition of The Vanity, and while I’m sure she’ll run well, there’s obviously no doubt that she’ll improve for whatever she does, and as she gets further out in trip.
The one that I am eager to back here, seemingly like a lot of Neds punters, is the fit and proven winner Zou Dancer.
Zou Dancer has had three starts back this time in, winning twice, including a BM70 race at this track and distance last time.
I like that she has been kept up to the mark with a trial and it really does look the perfect black type race for her.
Rule The World has returned some lovely efforts this prep and looks the value in Race 6 on Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Day ($12 at publish).
Rule The World charged in to score over 1400m at Caulfield three starts back, finishing second behind Viral in BM84 company two back before getting somewhat caught up and fifth at Sandown, last time out.
He is at peak fitness for this contest, the booking of Craig Williams is positive and he looms as a genuine each-way chance.
He was caught wide the whole way and still stuck on for third, and I think that Tagaloa will be winning the CS Hayes Stakes.
The 2020 Neds Blue Diamond winner is now approaching a year since that win, but he hasn’t run a poor race since, excluding his Caulfield Guineas run, for which he was found to be lame.
Getting out to 1400m suits, fitter second-up and with options from the rails draw, I’m more than happy to stick with him.
This is an outstanding edition of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and nearly every runner has some claims on winning.
For the record, I’ve put the straight track genius Bivouac on top, but you can find my full race preview and complete Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Tips RIGHT HERE.
A tough way to end the day with some quality sprinters engaged, but I’m a big fan of Zakat – he was outstanding for us during his spring preparation, and I’ll be happy to have something on first-up.
The four-year-old son of Lonhro was a model of consistency last time, and he recorded some big results around some quality horses; beating home the likes of Icebath in a BN88 race at Rosehill most notably.
He runs well fresh, he’ll be steered by Jamie Kah, and he can win this race.