Black Caviar Lightning

The Black Caviar Lightning, registered as the Lightning Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1000 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in February. Prize money is A$750,000.

Race history

The Lightning Stakes forms the first leg of the three leg Autumn sprint series over the Melbourne carnival. It precedes the G1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m, open handicap) at Caulfield Racecourse on the third Saturday in February and the G1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m, open handicap), Australia's most famous sprinting handicap, also run at Flemington on the first Saturday in March. Horses contesting this race may also head to the G1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse, run over 1200m at weight-for-age in March.

Race name

The name of the race changed from the Lightning Stakes in 2013, to honour sprinting superstar Black Caviar, who won the race in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Race distance