Some facts about the Group One $750,000 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
* At weight-for-age and first run in 1955 when won by Gay Vista.
* Group Two from 1980-86 and Group One from 1987.
* The race has been won by some of Australasia’s greatest sprinters including Todman (1960), Sky High (1961-62), Wenona Girl (1963-64), Citius (1966), Storm Queen (1967), Black Onyx (1970), Dual Choice (1971), Century (1974), Maybe Mahal (1977-78), River Rough (1984-85), Placid Ark (1987), Special (1988), Shaftesbury Avenue (1991), Schillaci (1992-93), Mahogany (1995, 1997), General Nediym (1998), Testa Rossa (2000), Spinning Hill (2002), Choisir (2003), Fastnet Rock (2005), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007), Apache Cat (2008), Scenic Blast (2009), Black Caviar (2011).
* Six horses have won the Lightning Stakes twice: Mahogany (1995, 1997), Schillaci (1992-93), River Rough (1984-85), Maybe Mahal (1977-78), Wenona Girl (1963-64) and Sky High (1961-62). Black Caviar will be out to join them on Saturday.
* Bart Cummings holds the record for the number of wins at seven but does not have a runner. His winners are Storm Queen 1967, Century 1974, Cap d’Antibes 1975, Maybe Mahal 1977 and 1978, Hula Chief 1986, Shaftesbury Avenue 1991.
* Trainers who have won the race before and have a runner this year: Peter Moody – Black Caviar (Black Caviar 2011).
* Winning jockeys with rides this year: Luke Nolen – Black Caviar (Black Caviar 2011); Glen Boss – Lone Rock (Fastnet Rock 2005, Choisir 2003).
* Three-year-olds have won eight of the last 18 runnings, the latest being Fastnet Rock in 2005. There is only one three-year-old in this year’s race – Foxwedge.
AAP TURF
