Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Likely Field – 2025

Flemington will be the focal point this Saturday with the highly anticipated Black Caviar Lightning Stakes meeting. This feature race is always a highlight, being one of the few 1000m Group 1 events on the Australian Racing Calendar each year.

The day also includes the C.S Hayes Stakes, a key lead-up race to the Australian Guineas, which pays tribute to a racing legend and the founder of the Lindsay Park racing dynasty.

This year’s Black Caviar Lightning Stakes will see a strong representation of three-year-olds, with Coolmore winner Switzerland leading the charge. He is joined by a talented lineup including Growing Empire, Traffic Warden, and Espionage.

James McDonald has confirmed he will ride Switzerland in his 2025 return, which means he will miss Cox Plate winner Via Sistina’s first-up run in Saturday’s Apollo Stakes. Mark Zahra will take the reins on Yulong’s star colt Growing Empire, while Jamie Melham partners with Godolphin’s Traffic Warden.

Craig Williams has chosen to ride Espionage, who adds an exciting element of unpredictability to the race. Blake Shinn has been booked for the consistent speedster I Am Me, and Daniel Stackhouse will reunite with Benedetta.

Other notable sprinters expected to compete include Mazu, Mornington Glory, and Stretan Angel. However, Estriella is unlikely to run, with connections leaning toward bypassing this race in favour of the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield next Saturday.

Switzerland and Growing Empire dominate the market with online betting companies at $3.20 and $3.80 respectively with all other horses at $8+

Likely Field for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes