| What | Black Caviar Lightning Day 2024 |
| Where | Flemington Racecourse: 448 Epsom Rd., Flemington VIC 3031 |
| When | Saturday, February 17, 2024 |
| First Race | 12:15pm AEDT |
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Visit Dabble |
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A bumper 10-race meeting awaits punters on Saturday as Group 1 racing returns to Flemington in 2024. The Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) is the feature event, with plenty of quality horse-flesh to go around throughout the undercard. Perfect conditions are forecast, and with the deck already a Good 4 and the rail in its true position, every runner should get their chance if good enough. A Group 1 day of action is set to get underway at 12:15pm AEDT.
Keep reading for HorseBetting’s free race-by-race preview of Flemington races.
Race 1: BM84 Handicap (2000m)
Akrotiri has returned in fine form this campaign, registering two wins from three starts. He was a determined all-the-way victor at Moonee Valley on January 27 over 2040m, and looks poised to go on with the job on the weekend. From barrier five, Mick Dee will likely have the son of Tarzino settled outside race favourite Aramco throughout, and with the applied pressure, Akrotiri should prove to be the superior stayer and continue his rise through the staying ranks.
5
AKROTIRI
7
STAR VEGA
3
ARAMCO
2
EL SOLEADO
Race 2: BM70 Handicap (1100m)
Having won in arrogant fashion down the Flemington straight on January 13, Chester Warrior looks a great play on Saturday. Have set the pace by himself on the inside rail over 1000m, while his remaining six rivals came up the middle, the son of Zululand managed to make all as he took the shortest way home. He seemingly has a strong affiliation with the Flemington straight, with a win and second from as many starts and that record looks set to continue. Blaike McDougall will look to control proceedings, and from there, Chester Warrior should prove too hard to gun down.
4
CHESTER WARRIOR
1
OUROBOROS
3
WIGGUM
8
PLUS FOURS
Best Value
Race 2 – #4 Chester Warrior (11)
4yo Gelding | T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes | J: Blaike McDougall (60.5kg)
+1100 with Playup
Race 3: Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m)
Wolfgang has always been spruiked as a classy two-year-old, and despite a poor run in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m), he can bounce back in the Talindert Stakes. His wins at Doomben and Morphettville at his two runs prior suggests he has an abundance of class. Despite being well beaten on debut down the Flemington straight during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, he will have derived great benefit from that experience and the son of Exceed And Excel looks primed to bounce back to the winner’s stall. From barrier one, Jye McNeil will stalk the speed throughout, but when asked to quicken, Wolfgang looks awfully hard to hold out.
1
WOLFGANG
2
COUNTEROFFENSIVE
3
AARDVARK
9
CHAMPAGNE TONIGHT
Race 4: BM84 Handicap (1600m)
Who Dares has been a model of consistency in recent times, with a win and three seconds to his name in his last four starts. Despite being a frustrating punting conveyance, the son of Deep Field looks to have found the right race to breakthrough once again. He was the best of the beaten brigade behind Jimmysstar at Caulfield last time out, and prior to that was lipped in Listed company behind Not An Option. His form reads the best, and from somewhere near the front of the field, Who Dares will prove too hard to gun down as he steps up to the 1600m for the first time.
4
WHO DARES
6
UP AND UNDER
8
MAGNASPIN
14
GREEN BELT
Next Best
Race 4 – #4 Who Dares (11)
4yo Gelding | T: Pat Carey & Harris Walker | J: Jye McNeil (58kg)
+340 with Bet365
Race 5: Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1600m)
The old saying ‘back a mare in-form’ is front and centre in the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes as Mitch Freedman’s Vagrant searches for a fifth straight win. The Pariah mare was an impressive winner in Group 3 company over 1200m at Caulfield on February 3 and despite stepping back up to the mile, she looks to have found the right race. With a couple of her key rivals first-up, Vagrant will have a massive fitness edge in Saturday’s feature for fillies and mares. From barrier two, Ben Melham will look to hold a prominent position, and if the pair finds clear air at the right time, Vagrant should be winning once more.
4
VAGRANT
3
WISHLOR LASS
2
FOXY FRIDA
1
REVOLUTIONARY MISS
Frances Tressady Stakes
Race 5 – #4 Vagrant (2)
4yo Mare | T: Mitchell Freedman | J: Ben Melham (58kg)
+650 with Dabble
Race 6: Group 3 The Vanity (1400m)
Infatuation benefited from a positive ride when leading throughout at Rosehill on February 3, and on recent form, the I Am Invincible filly looks the one to beat in The Vanity at Group 3 level. She brings an element of race fitness, which most of her key rivals lack in Saturday’s 1400m event, and if Jye McNeil can land her in a forward position from barrier 12 without using up too many carrots, Infatuation can dictate terms and lead throughout once again.
1
INFATUATION
2
MOLLYNICKERS
7
DONEGAL
12
PINK CHANDON
The Vanity
Race 6 – #1 Infatuation (12)
3yo Filly | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Jye McNeil (57kg)
+320 with Betfair
Race 7: Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m)
Following an eye-catching second when first-up over 1200m, King Colorado is poised to go one better in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes. Already a Group 1 winner as a juvenile, his effort on his return from a spell was his best performance since claiming Group 1 success in July last year. He gave his rivals a massive start, but displayed a thunderous finish to go down a length over the unsuitable journey. He is already a winner when second-up in the past, and if Mark Zahra can have the son of Kingman settled midfield with a touch of cover, King Colorado should reign supreme in the quaddie opener.
8
MATISSE
- 12
ET TU BRUTE
2
OTAGO
6
RIFF ROCKET
CS Hayes Stakes
Race 7 – #2 King Colorado (9)
3yo Colt | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Mark Zahra (59.5kg)
+220 with Unibet
Race 8: Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m)
Sparks are set to fly in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning, as a field of eight gun sprinters duke it out for the $1 million on offer. Despite Imperatriz arguably being the best sprinter in the land, Bella Nipotina looks to have returned in top order this campaign. Ciaron Maher’s sprinter is already a Group 1 winner and based on a sharp piece of work at Cranbourne on February 5, she looks ready to strike first-up from a spell. Look for Craig Williams to have her stalking the speed influences wherever they go, and can blouse the front-runners. Imperatriz is a deserving favourite, but with $7 on offer with leading horse racing bookmakers, Bella Nipotina looks a great play.
3
BELLA NIPOTINA
4
IMPERATRIZ
1
PRIVATE EYE
7
CYLINDER
Black Caviar Lightning
Race 8 – #3 Bella Nipotina (6)
6yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Craig Williams (56.5kg)
+600 with Picklebet
Race 9: Listed The Elms Handicap (1400m)
Jimmysstar is living up to his star potential, and is simply put, a moral on Saturday. He is unbeaten through three Australian starts, and with an All-Star Mile wildcard already secured, sit back and enjoy one of the rising stars on the Australian circuit.
12
JIMMYSSTAR
1
NOT AN OPTION
10
CARINI
11
KA BLING
Race 10: BM84 Handicap (1400m)
Punch Lane was a dominant BM70 winner at Caulfield on February 3, and he snares our best bet tag on Saturday. Anthony & Sam Freedman have the son of So You Think flying in recent times, winning three of his last four starts. Mark Zahra will look to land the four-year-old either outside lead or in the one-one from barrier eight, and if he can do that, Punch Lane looks to have a bit too much class on his side in the closer on Saturday.
13
PUNCH LANE
14
MASTER MONTARO
11
BEL AIR
5
LOUNGE BAR RUBI
Best Bet
Race 10 – #13 Punch Lane (8)
4yo Gelding | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Mark Zahra (56kg)
+170 with Picklebet
Flemington free Saturday quaddie tips
Flemington quadrella selections
Saturday, February 17, 2024
- 1-2-7-9-11
- 1-3-4-7-8
- 12
- 11-13-14
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