Last year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes hinted it and the Black Caviar Lightning confirmed it, with Tentyris stamping himself Australia’s newest sprint star at Flemington on Saturday.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt made it back-to-back Group 1 wins with an explosive display against proven weight-for-age performers in the 1000-metre event.
The victory came at his first start since proving a class above his own age group in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Derby Day and Sam Freedman said his father, who was once part of the all-conquering ‘FBI’ – Freedman Brothers Incorporated – left him in no doubt about the type of horse they were dealing with.
“He has been in the game for so long and he said to me at the end of the spring campaign, this might be the best horse you ever train,” Sam said.
“(I said) I thought you might be suggesting you trained one better back in the 1990s and 2000s – there was a bit of cheek there, they had Mahogany and Schillaci – but he’s building his own record that will hopefully be right up there with some of the best.”
Tentyris ($2.60 fav), a son of Street Boss, swept home from last in the small field of eight to again relegate John McArdle-trained filly My Gladiola to second placing in what was a repeat of the Coolmore Stud Stakes quinella.
My Gladiola ($7) cut the Coolmore margin of 2-1/4 lengths to three-quarters-of-a-length in the Lightning, which was the same distance to Benedetta ($26) in third position.
Damian Lane, who rode Tentyris into second position in last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes, reclaimed the ride on Saturday, replacing the injured Mark Zahra, and he described him as an ‘incredible talent’.
“We just only had the one play with him with how he steps out of the barriers, it was just a risk whether the 1000 was going to be too short (but) it certainly wasn’t,” Lane said.
“Mid-race I had to ask him to pick up the bridle and when he did, he really joined in well and as had become his trademark, that last bit of his race was outstanding.”
The Lightning victory was part of a quartet of wins for Lane, who won the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes aboard Sixties and recorded Listed wins aboard Hard Kick and Sass Appeal.
Tentyris is now $2 favourite for the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at his favourite track on March 7 and while Freedman said that was their preferred next start, his appearance would be weight dependent.
“I would love to come to the Newmarket if he was not heavily penalised for the victory. It’s not easy for a three-year-old to carry a big weight like that,” he said.
“We’ll have to have a chat about where he goes, but I can assure you it’s a very good problem to have.”
