Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Tips, Betting, Odds, Horses & More 2024

The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is one of the biggest feature sprint races on the Australian horse racing calendar each year. The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes will take place in 2024 on the 17th of February and is one of the most important Group One races on the calendar. 

The Group 1 race held at Flemington Racecourse, Victoria used to go by the shorter name of the Lightning Stakes before being renamed in 2013 to honour the undefeated, three-time winner, and all-time great, Black Caviar. Flemington Racecourse is one of the top tracks in the country.

You need not go further than a list of previous winners to appreciate the star-studded fields the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes draws. Scroll down below to see our list of the previous winners of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes up until 2010.

The prize money for this weight-for-age stunner is currently sitting at $1 million. The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes has been maintained at the 1000m distance since its inception in 1955. Be sure to tune in on February 17, 2024, to not miss out on one of the best and most entertaining sprint races showcased on the Australian horse racing calendar. 

OnlyRacing’s Black Caviar Lightning Stakes page will show you how and where to bet on the race. We will also get into the race and track history, as well as previous winners of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

Be sure to visit OnlyRacing.com.au closer to the meet on February 17 to see our most up-to-date tips and analysis of the runners in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes field. These tips will include best bets, exotics and multi-picks to satisfy your punting needs. So, don’t forget to check back as the race draws nearer so you can gain expert opinions on the outcome of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

We all love money, right? So, below is a breakdown of the prize money given out for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes:

Here at OnlyRacing, we take our horse racing tips very seriously! We’re here to provide our readers with the best free horse racing tips, which means winners, winners and more winners. While the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is still a little while away, our experts are still awaiting more information about the runners, so they can provide their most accurate tips.

In the meantime, we don’t want to leave you empty-handed, so why don’t you check out the tips from our horse racing expert for the race in 2023? Our expert crunched the numbers, looked at all the data and these are their tips: 

What a ridiculously strong field of runners that could be slated for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes on Saturday 18th February 2023. Many notable names that boast strong career records and cup wins. 

We have done our best to provide our pick for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. This Black Caviar Lightning Stakes tip is in the same style as our OnlyRacing tips so if you are a regular reader, you will be able to follow easily. If you aren’t, what are you doing with yourself?

Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Best Bet - Nature Strip

There is little that needs to be said about the early front runner for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, Nature Strip. Second by a bobbing head in 2022 and winner the year previous, Nature Strip is arguably the premier Australian horse to beat on its day. 

I could go on all day about the eight-year-old chestnut gelding’s racing style which is a joy to watch, but instead, as a precursor for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, have a read below at some career statistics of note for Nature Strip.

A whopping total of $20,600,008 has been amassed by Nature Strip. Nature Strip is trained by Chris Waller out of Warwick Farm and is sired by Nicconi and Strikeline, stallion and dam respectively.

Nature Strip’s most lucrative career win to date is not even his victory at Flemington Racecourse in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes but is rather his win at Royal Randwick’s TJ Smith Stakes, winning $800,940. Interestingly in this race, Nature Strip just beat out Eduardo for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

Nature Strip has a 22-8-1 record in 41 starts, winning 54%, and placing in 76% of those starts. The ROI for Nature Strip stands at an insane 34%. This means that if you bet on Nature Strip for all 41 starts, you would have made 34% of your total investment in the gelding.

Be sure to check back in closer to race week, as our experts will provide their tips for the 2024 race!

We here at OnlyRacing recommend you bet on a wide range of markets on different betting apps, so you get the most out of not only the feature race in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes but also the rest of the meet on Saturday the 17th of February 2024 at Flemington Racecourse, Victoria. 

Listed below are a few market suggestions to get on come race day:

• Quaddie at Flemington Racecourse.
• Quinella/ Trifecta/ First Four in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes race.
• Fixed Win/ Place bets on your favourite runners in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and across the whole meet at Flemington Racecourse.
• Multi bet across multiple races at the Flemington Racecourse Black Caviar Lightning Stakes meet.
  

Now that you’ve got your betting options, the question remains - who should you bet with? It’s an age-old question! You’ve got so many horse racing betting sites to choose from, how could you possibly make a decision? Well, that’s where OnlyRacing comes in handy.

We’ve studied all the best Australian betting sites, and even provide comprehensive reviews on each of them (if you’re interested). After all our research, we’ve found it is a good idea to have multiple bookie accounts, because they all offer something a little bit different, and you don’t want to pass up on the potential of better odds or new betting sites bonuses!

To start with, we like PlayUp. They are one of the best betting apps and have got some truly unique promotions on offer, like getting an extra 15% winnings for being a horse owner. Other bookies are more in tune with the racing punter, while others have something for everyone. 

Volcanobet is another of our recommended bookies because it brings back the fun in punting. If you’re a punter who doesn’t take things too seriously, then you’ll love using Volcanobet. Be sure to look out for their betting promotions as well!

If competitive odds are something you are on the lookout for, then EliteBet is the bookie for you. They are known in the market for offering great odds, and as well as this, they have some of the best promotions going around (but you’ll have to sign up to see just how good they are!).

So, there are three of our top recommended bookies. If you’re looking for more recommendations on who to bet with on the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, check out our “Betting Sites” section above!

The field for the 2024 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is yet to be determined but there is a strong list of pre-nominations who are likely to feature come Saturday race day. We have listed the current odds for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes in our “Odds” section below. 

Please keep in mind once again that the 2024 field is not confirmed for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, so the odds will likely change dramatically in the weeks leading up to the big race. 

While we don’t have a crystal ball to tell us which horses will feature in the field for the 2024 race, we do have the ability to look back and see which horses made an appearance in the race for 2023:

In the 2023 edition of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, there were just 11 runners in the final field, which ended up being cut down to 10 as Roch ‘N’ Horse was scratched before the jump. 

Scratchings are very commonplace, even in key races like the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. It can happen on the day of the race or even just minutes before the jump, and while it can be annoying if the horse you bet on ends up being scratched, rest easy knowing that you will get your cash back into your account.

Another key factor to look at within the final field is the barrier draw. The barrier each runner starts in can have a huge impact on how the race will pan out. Like with any race, certain barriers have seen more winners than others, and there are some barriers that both jockeys and trainers don’t want to see their horse draw.

If you’re going to be betting on the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, you’ll need to know more about the stats and form guide that makes up this great race. As they say, “the stats don’t lie”! You need to have all the information, so you’re able to make the best decision possible.

Here at OnlyRacing, we’ve put together all the key form guide information you’ll need if you’re going to place a bet this year on the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Each race is different and this means there is a different form to look into. So, let’s take a look, shall we?

As we’ve seen in recent years, the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes attracts a small field, which is mostly due to the weight-for-age conditions of the race. Due to the small field, you’ll find that the barrier draw isn’t of as much significance, but it is still worth having a quick look at nonetheless. 

As the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is a Group 1, you’ll find the field is stacked with high-quality sprinters. We’ve found that horses tackling this key race first up have had success. On the other hand, those runners who have already kicked off their campaign have usually run in the Group 2 Australia Stakes, the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes or the Listed Adams Stakes.

As this race attracts high-quality runners, you’ll find that most of the winners of this race have already previously won a Group 1, so keep a lookout for that. The race is a tough shootout due to the length of only 1,000m, so look for more mature horses that can handle the pressure.

While some punters simply like to back the favourite, in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, the strike rate of favourites hasn’t been too crash hot. On the flip side, double-digit runners should be avoided as well. Look for a runner that isn’t necessarily the favourite, but their odds aren't above $10 either.

We see top horses competing in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, and this has been true for many decades now.  At OnlyRacing, we have emboldened four different winners from four different periods for vastly different reasons. 

The goal in mind? To provide you guys with some of the top horses that have ever competed (and won) the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Check out the four key horses from previous editions of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes below:

Gay Vista - 1955

The first champion of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, then the Lightning Stakes, Gay Vista was a journeyman horse that raced in several different countries. He was always a spectacle on Australian soil though.

Gay Vista boasted an incredible 16 wins from 25 starts, one of which was the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Gay Vista moved to the USA a couple of years after gaining the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes honours, proving successful there too, winning five of eight runs.

Placid Ark - 1987

One name that might not stick out as much as the others on our list of notable winners at the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is Placid Ark, the winner of the 1987 iteration of the Lightning Stakes. What makes Placid Ark so interesting is his price tag of merely $5,000. 

A great purchase this would prove to be as Placid Ark bestowed his trainers and stable with not only a win in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, but also the Canterbury Stakes, the Newmarket Handicap, the Winterbottom Stakes, and the Oakleigh Plate. Some returns for a $5,000 horse! Placid Ark finished with 14 wins from 21 starts, including three other placings.

Black Caviar - 2011-2013

I sincerely hope as a reader of OnlyRacing you are at least somewhat familiar with the name of one of the greatest race horses to ever live. Black Caviar not only won the Lightning Stakes in three successive years (2011-2013), but she is the reason the race was renamed. From 2013 onwards the 1000m sprint race at Flemington Racecourse was and is known as the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

There are many specific points in time to highlight for the unbeaten Black Caviar, however, a poignant time in the great horse’s career was after her third and final win at the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Following her victory, Black Caviar took out the William Reid Stakes and Randwick’s TJ Smith Stakes before the pin was pulled on her career.

Black Caviar is widely regarded around the world as one of the all-time greats, with an unbeaten record to boot. We may never see one like her again, but her legacy lives on as the name of Victoria’s feature sprint race, the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

Nature Strip - 2021

Nature Strip is a gun. No other way to put it. He was also the favourite going into the 2023 race and was paired with his usual jockey partner James McDonald (what a combo). A nice win at the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes for Nature Strip in 2021 ensured he would be favourite once more come the next couple of iterations of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. 

However, in 2022 the race did not go as planned. Despite this, Nature Strip came into the 2023 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes as the undeniable favourite. Once again, things didn’t work out for him, as his 2021 victory remains his only one.

Probably the most important piece of the puzzle: the odds! Long before the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes final field is announced in all its glory, all the top horse racing betting apps will open markets for the race.

The odds in horse racing markets will change dramatically as the days tick over closer to the big race. As we are a little while away from the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, our top bookie PlayUp, is yet to release a market. But don’t worry, we’ll keep an eye on their website and provide the all-important odds in this section once they become available!

You’ll see significant fluctuations in the odds once they are released, as horses will be targeting different races. There is a chance that the horse you bet on doesn’t even end up running in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. If you bet on the race “Before Noms” you will get your bet back if your horse isn’t included in the final field.

We believe one of the best times to bet on the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is “Before Noms” because you could pick up the eventual favourite (or a strong contender) for double-digit odds. Then, even if your horse isn’t in the final field, you still get your money back. If you are betting in the “All-In” market, be aware because you won’t get your bet back if your horse doesn’t run.

We will list all the latest Black Caviar Lightning Stakes odds below once PlayUp releases their market. Stay tuned!

Time for a history lesson! The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is no doubt one of the best races on the Group 1 calendar, but what has intrigued punters over the years is the enigma that is the Flemington Racecourse. When it comes to Group Ones during horse racing carnivals, the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is steeped in history.

Now, as a Sydneysider born and bred in the great state of New South Wales, you grow up thinking about Royal Randwick as the premier Australian thoroughbred racetrack. As true as this still rings for me, many others would oppose this view and see Flemington Racecourse as the crown jewel nowadays.

Flemington Racecourse is not only the home of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (formerly known as the Lightning Stakes) but has been hosting races since the 1840s. The history of this great racecourse came to fruition when the Australian Parliament handed over legal control of the Flemington Racecourse site to the Victoria Racing Club back in 1871. 

Since then, the track has hosted some of the most notable events not just on the Australian racing calendar, but internationally. Whilst Flemington Racecourse hosts huge events such as the Australian Cup, the Newmarket Handicap, and the Victoria Derby, there is no race bigger than its most notable, the Melbourne Cup. Australia’s most prestigious race calls Flemington Racecourse its home. 

If you need some stats on how important Flemington Racecourse is, have a look below at a quick breakdown of the total Group 1-3 races held annually:

• Group 1 –13 races
• Group 2 – 9 races
• Group 3 – 14 races

The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is just one of many races on the calendar. If you want to learn more about other key races, make sure you check out our Group One races list. We’ve got all the details you need!

As soon as the race has been run, punters who weren’t lucky enough to watch the race live will be frantically searching online for the results! Have you come out a winner, or will you be having 2-minute noodles for dinner tonight?

The 2023 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes was taken out by multiple Group 1 winner Coolangatta! As always, the race was run at a blistering pace, with Coolangatta crossing the finishing post in just 56.46 seconds.

I Wish I Win came from the clouds to take out second. The Peter G Moody-trained horse was 10th at the 400m mark but ended up finishing just 0.4L off the leader. Wrapping up the last minor placing was Bella Nipotina, 0.5L off the pace.

Check out the full Black Caviar Lightning Stakes results below:

If you're more of a visual person, we've got your back here at OnlyRacing! Check out the full race replay of the 2023 edition of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes

When it comes to racing, there can only be one winner in every race, and we’ve got them all (well, up until 2010, that is!). Check out the table below to see all the most recent winners of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes:

You’ve almost reached the end of the page, congratulations! Gold star for you! But before you go, if you’ve got any more burning questions about the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, hopefully we’ve answered them below.