The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes marks the first of this year’s Group 1s on Saturday at Flemington.
Godolphin top prospect Tentyris resumes with his sights on the Newmarket Handicap later in the autumn, while multiple Group 1 winning champion Giga Kick looks to be the main danger down the straight.
Five other races on the card are of black-type, including the Group 3 CS Hayes and Tressady Stakes later on the day.
We should have fine weather come race day with the rail in the true position, and as always, you can find our selections ahead of every race on Lightning Stakes Day here!
STELLAR CIPHER (2) presents fitter second-up for Chris Waller.
The Zoustar colt should take plenty away from his debut run for second at Pakenham a fortnight ago, settling in nicely behind the speed and sticking on well to finish a length of Tough Romance.
Stepping out over 1100m may have been a little sharp for him that day, so he looks a big improver with Ben Melham sticking.
Happy to give TRAPALANDA (11) another chance following a complete forgive run at Randwick a few weeks ago.
The Archibald-trained gelding spotted his rivals five lengths and was always a long way back, eventually caught five-wide into the straight to finish just over 4.5 lengths off.
He’s been a tricky horse to get a read on at times, but three previous place efforts – including one over the track/trip here at Flemington read well on his resume.
In nicely with the claim and drawn to settle closer in the run this time, he should measure up at a decent price.
Keen to see what CUSTOM (3) can produce here over 1400m for the first time.
A bit went wrong for the Street Boss filly on return at Caulfield last month in the Manfred Stakes, where she was forced to shuffle back to the tail mid-race, and eventually squeezed between a pair when trying to shift out down the straight.
She settled for fourth in the end but really charged home strongly to suggest she’d eat up further. There are a couple others that have her covered in terms of class, but Jamie Melham sticks, and I think they’ll get another well-timed ride from a low gate.
NDOLA (4) is bursting to win a race like this for the Hayes boys.
The four-year-old son to Justify has been around the mark for a while this prep, last seen running on late for second here over the course and distance to finish within a length of Supernima.
Keep in mind he was throwing his head around and facing the breeze for the majority of that race before apprentice Jackson Radley got a hold of him to knuckle down late.
Given a jump out between runs with Luke Currie returning to the saddle now, this looks a winnable contest from a better gate.
NEWFOUNDLAND (3) returns to Melbourne coming off a solid Australia Day Cup win at Warwick Farm last month.
The Waterhouse/Bott Irish import was three-wide that day on his way to a narrow win, putting away a small field over his final strides thanks to a tidy ride by Tim Clark.
He’s been given a few weeks between runs and has typically gone well here at Headquarters with a couple of placings to his name from four attempts.
A runner-up in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup last year, he gets in well with the claim and rates a genuine threat with good third-up form.
CAFE MILLENIUM (2) just needs a little luck from a sticky gate to be a serious factor.
The son to Not A Single Doubt resumed to finish just over a length off Regal Zeus at Caulfield in a similar Stakes race over 1400m last month, form that looks okay with that same horse running only half a length off the winner in last Saturday’s Group 3 Carlyon Cup.
As we saw last time in work, he does take a few runs to warm up, but once he’s fit, he’s capable of winning black-type races in succession.
BARAQIEL (3) is unbeaten first-up, and while he doesn’t have the same class as Giga Kick, he is a bit of a short course specialist with two wins from two starts over 1000m.
Last year’s Moir Stakes winner running second to Charm Stone in the Manikato at The Valley, and he’s since jumped out very well in the leadup to his return with Ben Allen back in the saddle.
His form here at Flemington has been decent and with a few of these looking ahead to other races later in the autumn, I think he’s the one that might be a little overlooked in the market.
SIXTIES (2) arrives in Melbourne with his sights set firmly on the Australian Guineas in a few weeks.
He might be a little short for some, but his win at Rosehill a couple of weeks ago was nothing short of arrogant, shifting across heels approaching the furlong to accelerate and win with real authority.
He’s up a level here, but if the race pans out in his favour this time, he should produce an equally strong finish.
PHILIA (1) has been off the scene for a while but is more than up to winning this.
Last year’s winner of The Roses has trialled up nicely leading into her return, winning a few hit-outs as she prepares to return from a 36-week spell.
You could argue she might need the run, but she’s typically been a good fresh horse and draws to do no work early from the soft gate. Ethan Brown gets a crack in the saddle, and the pair should be up fighting for the lead nice and early.