The countdown is on until the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes 2017 steals the show at Flemington Racecourse this afternoon and updated odds on the sprint showdown are detailed below.
Darley Classic runner-up Spieth is the early 2017 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes market mover for Flemington Race 8 on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
One scratchings sees a dozen starters in this year’s $750,000 Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m), trainer Robbie Laing opting not to run his filly Missrock in the tough sprint classic.
The two remaining three-year-olds – out to be the first of their age since Fastnet Rock (2005) to win the weight-for-age event – are dominating the updated Black Caviar Lightning odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Both young stars return to racing kicking off their autumn down the famous Flemington straight, with Flying Artie and Star Turn now equal in betting at $4.80 each for the win.
Mick Price’s Coolmore Stud Stakes winner over 1200m at the track during the Melbourne Cup Carnival jumps from barrier four with the race’s five-time winning jockey Damien Oliver in the saddle.
He is yet to prove himself in an open-age field and will be a better horse getting back up to 1200m, but after a good lead-up trial and all the class he could still have enough speed to get the job done first-up.
Star Turn for Team Hawkes ran third to Flying Artie in the Coolmore last time out and is also drawn a treat for the rematch in barrier two.
Last year’s winning hoop Dwayne Dunn rode Chautauqua for the same stable from the same barrier and is out to go back-to-back, easing slightly in Black Caviar Lightning betting from $4.60.
Market Favourites
- #11 Flying Artie ($4.20 out to $4.80)
- #12 Star Turn ($4.60 out to $4.80)
- #7 Spieth ($5.50 into $5)
The other best backed in the field in from $5.50 into $5 is Spieth with the Hugh Bowman factor for the Bryce Heys-trained Thorn Park four-year-old.
His last run was the Darley Classic third here on November 5 and plenty of money has come in for him to fire fresh.
Rounding out the single-figure fancies are the Joe Pride-trained Terravista ($8.50 out to $9.50) who could be just out of his prime in a race like this full of depth and Supido steady at $8.50.
If the three-year-olds don’t fire first-up, Supido from the Cranbourne stables of Mick Price is the definite danger.
He jumps from out wide (10 into 9) with Luke Nolen aboard, Nolen having won the race three times on the trot aboard the mighty Black Caviar.
At Flemington Kent’s Sebring stallion is unbeaten with four wins at the track and while the distance could be a bit sharp for a number in this field, Supido has stellar form at 1000m (3-2-1-0).
Another genuine distance specialist, Lonhro mare Heatherly (8-3-3-2) meanwhile shapes up as value having eased out from $8.50 to $10.
See below for the full Black Caviar Lightning 2017 odds, betting open now at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
