Some of the world’s best sprinters will blast down the famous Flemington straight in Saturday’s Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.
Nature Strip will make his eagerly awaited return to the races in the $1 million feature and unsurprisingly, has opened an even-money favourite in Black Caviar Lightning betting.
Will the outstanding son of Nicconi add a second win in this race to his CV? I’ve found it impossible not to have him on top of my 2023 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Tips.
Suggested Bets
- 5 Units straight out #1 Nature Strip
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
An unprecedented fourth-consecutive TJ Smith Stakes win is his major target again this campaign, but I think that Nature Strip will kick off his campaign in style by being crowned the Black Caviar Lightning winner.
Nature Strip has amassed an incredible twenty-two career victories, highlighted by many at the highest level here in Australia, an Everest, and a King’s Stand Stakes in the UK to boot.
His fresh record is particularly impressive, James McDonald understandably rides this weekend, and something would probably have to be wrong with him for Nature Strip not to win.
He has fast become one of my favourite gallopers, and I love that Peter Moody is testing the Group 1 sprint waters with I Wish I Win this time in.
I Wish I Win stamped his top-line credentials in New Zealand earlier last year, but went to another level during his Australian debut prep in the spring, culminating in a brilliant win in The Golden Eagle.
He’s another horse that absolutely flies fresh (4:3-1-0) and he clearly does have the talent to mix it with the best.
The $12 about him in Black Caviar Lightning Stakes betting (at publish) is over the odds in my opinion, and I think that he is the real danger to Nature Strip.
Bella Nipotina will kick off a preparation geared towards the inaugural ‘The Quokka’ in the Black Caviar Lightning, and I am confident that she too can fight out the finish.
The smart daughter of Pride Of Dubai has been a good horse since make her debut, but she finally realised her Group 1 potential with an utterly dominant performance in the Manikato Stakes: one the Spring Carnival’s standout performances, in my opinion.
She is a multiple fresh winner, and while I do think she’ll continue to improve as her preparation progresses, she’s certainly up to a good performance this week.
A fresh Coolangatta is another intriguing inclusion in the Black Caviar Lightning field, and she has just snuck into my numbers.
The Written Tycoon filly won an impressive winner of last year’s Magic Millions Classic and continued to race well throughout the year, claiming her maiden Group 1 win in spring’s Moir Stakes.
A recent trial was smart and she’ll carry just 53.5kgs in this contest, while the booking of Jamie Kah adds further confidence.