2025 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Day Tips & Preview

Miss Tarzy has been up since last November, but she continues to hold her form nicely for Team Freedman and company. 

The mare by Tarzino is looking to snap a recent streak of placings that includes a runner-up effort at Flemington two back, and a brave performance for third at Sandown three weeks ago over 100m further. 

This talented five-year-old was caught wide and forced to make up early ground upon settling, eventually stalking the speed into the straight where she let down nicely to show plenty through the line. 

Back slightly in trip now and plenty fit, she’ll just need a touch of luck from another awkward gate to be a serious factor. 

Ammo is a two-year-old colt on debut for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr. 

By Capitalist, he’s been given a pair of recent trials over the last few weeks leading into his debut, most recently seen hitting the line hard to win at Cranbourne by exactly two lengths. 

Blake Shinn pilots from a slightly awkward alley, but it’s worth monitoring the betting with this boy clearly possessing a nice turn of foot. 

Miraval Rose gets back out to 1400m after weakening in the run home last start at Sandown over shorter. 

The 1200m trip was clearly short of her best off a four-week break, but she is open to improvement with Craig Williams taking over the reins again. 

The pair combined to win the Kensington Stakes on New Year’s Day two starts back and are likely to get back early in the run from the wide gate. 

Proven over this trip and potentially suited by the possibility of a soft track, I’m willing to give this girl another chance. 

My Brothers Keeper is a definite each-way chance here second up for Stephen Brown. 

A three-year-old gelding by Fiorente, this boy gave a nice sight on return at Flemington last month, overcoming some late traffic to run second whilst showing plenty of toe through the line. 

He wasn’t asked to do much during a recent jump out win, while he’s also done some of his best racing second-up in the past. 

This is a tougher race, but in carrying only 54kg, he looks more than capable of finding his way into the money.  

Wiggum continues to run well for Travis Doudle. 

The Rich Enuff four-year-old has been up for a while but has improved sharply of late to return the money in his last two starts here down the straight at Headquarters. 

He was seen working through the gears nicely down the outside for third last start, appearing to have a lot left to give through the line when beaten just under a length. 

A change in rider with Craig Williams stepping into the irons helps, particularly after blowing the start a couple of weeks ago.  

Rise At Dawn is back at the races for Team Hayes. 

The four-year-old by Almanzor has caught the eye winning two recent jumpouts, prevailing over the concluding stages last time out where he looked to have something left in the tank through the line.  

A winner of seven of his 12 starts, the lightly-raced four-year-old wrapped up his last prep winning a Stakes race at Caulfield over 1700m where he dug deep over the final furlong under Michael Dee. 

The 1400m trip is short of his best, but unbeaten fresh and drawn well, he’s one of the main contenders.  

Henlein is a Group 1 place-getter who can give a nice sight here fresh for Anthony and Sam Freedman.  

Out of Dundeel, this talented three-year-old held his own in much tougher races than this last year, finishing runner-up in a Group 2 at The Valley, before going on to finish second in the Spring Champion Stakes where he was beaten less than half a length by El Costello.  

He hasn’t been asked to do much in two recent jumpouts but has shown plenty at this stage of his prep in the past, notably winning on debut as a two-year-old.  

With Mark Zahra experienced in the saddle, a little luck from out wide would put the pair right in the finish.  

Growing Empire burned punters on a few occasions over the spring, but that isn’t to say he can’t come out and win a sprint race like this fresh. 

The Zoustar colt boasts placing in the Manikato Stakes, The Everest, and the Coolmore Stud Stakes, and is sure to have admirers after storming the line late to win his latest trial at Cranbourne in a head bob. 

How he handles 1000m for the first time is the question, but if he’s given a sit just off the speed and saved for the final 200m under Mark Zahra, his best should be good enough. 

Sneaky Sunrise is a nice value play in an open race between the fillies.  

This daughter to The Autumn Sun ran some nice races last year, her best being a second-place effort in a Stakes race at Flemington over the mile way back in July. 

We haven’t seen her since, and while she might be in need of the run, I thought she quickened nicely in a recent Cranbourne trial after being given a patient sit in behind the speed. 

Daniel Stackhouse has missed the money only once on board from five starts, so providing 1400m isn’t too sharp on return, she’s a live chance in the penultimate. 

Is It Me made it look easy when winning by 1.75 lengths off a four-week let-up last start. 

Daniel Bowman’s gelding let down with a massive run from a long way back, finding the centre of the straight out of the turn to hit the lead at the 200m mark and never look back.  

He’ll carry 60kg into this assignment with Billy Egan booked to ride again, but considering he’s only a few runs into his prep, another patient ride off the speed would see him hard to hold out.