The mighty Imperatriz returns to Flemington on Saturday, aiming to extend her dominance and claim her ninth Group 1 victory in the prestigious Black Caviar Lightning 2024.
Imperatriz is the one to beat again first-up in Flemington’s 2024 Black Caviar Lightning field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Kiwi superstar heads a field of eight in the $1 million sprint, with Ladbrokes placing her firmly as the odds-on favorite at $1.90.
Fresh from an impressive spring campaign where she conquered Melbourne with four consecutive wins, including Group 1 triumphs in the Moir, Manikato, and Champions Sprint, Imperatriz boasts an imposing first-up record and proven track credentials.
Drawn ideally in barrier two with champion jockey Opie Bosson in the saddle, she appears almost unstoppable.
However, three challengers lurk under double-figure odds, offering the potential for an upset.
Joe Pride‘s Private Eye ($5) emerges as the primary threat, seeking redemption after placing second in the Giga Kick Stakes behind Bella Nipotina in the spring.
He returns to Flemington for the first time since a narrow defeat in last year’s Newmarket Handicap.
Ciaron Maher‘s impressive mare Bella Nipotina ($7), winner of the Giga Kick Stakes, and the consistent I Am Unstoppable ($7), trained by Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans, also warrant close attention.
One interesting storyline unfolds with I Am Unstoppable, aiming to become the third consecutive three-year-old to conquer the Black Caviar Lightning, following in the footsteps of Home Affairs (2022) and Coolangatta (2023).
Though yet to win at Flemington, his three runner-up finishes at the track display his potential.
All eyes will be on Flemington Race 8 at 4:15pm (AEDT) on Saturday as Imperatriz seeks to further etch her name in racing history.
Will she add another chapter to her incredible legacy, or will one of the challengers rise to the occasion and cause a major upset?
2024 Black Caviar Lighting Field & Barriers
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7x405x132x | PRIVATE EYE | Joseph Pride | Blake Shinn | 8 | 58.5kg | 115 | ||
| 2 | x062725x95 | THE ASTROLOGIST | Leon & Troy Corstens | Luke Currie | 7 | 58.5kg | 104 | ||
| 3 | 236x33315x | BELLA NIPOTINA | Ciaron Maher | Craig Williams | 6 | 56.5kg | 114 | ||
| 4 | 1121x1111x | IMPERATRIZ | Mark Walker | Opie Bosson | 2 | 56.5kg | 119 | ||
| 5 | 117x21714x | ESPIONA | Chris Waller | Michael Dee | 4 | 56.5kg | 112 | ||
| 6 | x1135x3534 | RICH FORTUNE | Jerome Hunter | Mark Zahra | 1 | 56.5kg | 84 | ||
| 7 | 127x11350x | CYLINDER | James Cummings | Damian Lane | 5 | 55.5kg | 107 | ||
| 8 | 11x3222x | I AM UNSTOPPABLE | Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans | Ms Jamie Kah | 3 | 55.5kg | 100 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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