Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Tips, Betting, Odds, Horses & More 2026

The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, a weight-for-age sprint race at Flemington Racecourse will be held on Saturday 14th February 2026. The 1,000m trip is one of the highlights of the Australian racing calendar and features some of the best horses the country has to offer. The race has grown in popularity thanks to a long list of notable winners and as a result, there has been a gradual increase in prize money. 

Looking for some quick facts about the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes? No stress, we’ve got you covered! Check out the table here:

The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is one of the biggest feature sprint races on the Australian horse racing calendar each year. The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes will take place in 2026 on the 14th of February and is one of the most important Group One races on the calendar. 

The Group 1 race held at Flemington Racecourse, Victoria used to go by the shorter name of the Lightning Stakes before being renamed in 2013 to honour the undefeated, three-time winner and all-time great, Black Caviar. Flemington Racecourse is one of the top tracks in the country.

You need not go further than a list of previous winners to appreciate the star-studded fields the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes draws. Scroll down below to see our list of the previous winners of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes up until 2010.

The prize money for this weight-for-age stunner is currently sitting at $1 million. The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes has been maintained at the 1,000m distance since its inception in 1955. Be sure to tune in on February 14, 2026, to not miss out on one of the best and most entertaining sprint races showcased on the Australian horse racing calendar. 

OnlyRacing’s Black Caviar Lightning Stakes page will show you how and where to bet on the race. We will also get into the race and track history, as well as previous winners of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

Be sure to visit OnlyRacing closer to the meet on February 14 to see our most up-to-date tips and analysis of the runners in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes field. These tips will include best bets, exotics and multi-picks to satisfy your punting needs. So, don’t forget to check back as the race draws nearer so you can gain expert opinions on the outcome of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

We all love money, right? So, keep reading to see a breakdown of the prize money given out for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes:

Here at OnlyRacing, we take our horse racing tips very seriously! We’re here to provide our readers with the best free horse racing tips, which means winners, winners and more winners. Each year for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, our experts put in the hard yards and provide their tips on the race.

At this stage, our 2026 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes aren’t available just yet. We are waiting until race week and when the time is right, our experts will crunch the numbers and provide their best bet, next best and best roughie for the race. On top of this, you can get Flemington tips all year round with the team here at OnlyRacing.

While you’re here, check out our Black Caviar Lightning Stakes tips for the race in 2025 (we will update our tips during race week in 2026):

Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Best Bet - Switzerland

We see a small field of sprinters lining up for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and it’s hard for me to split the top two currently in the market with PlayUp. Switzerland and Growing Empire are both high-quality sprinters and I could easily see both of them winning the race. I am, however, giving a slight end to Switzerland.

Switzerland is the favourite with PlayUp, at odds of $2.70. The colt is the deserving favourite I believe and we last saw him win the Coolmore Stud Stakes by 2.8L last time out. This was a field that included some of the same runners that line up again here, including Growing Empire. Only has 55.5kg on his back and JMac sticks with him.

Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Next Best - Growing Empire

I reckon there’s a fair chance that Growing Empire can get one back on Switzerland here after going down in the Coolmore Stud Stakes to round out what was a good Spring Racing Carnival, despite not claiming that elusive Group 1 victory. Growing Empire is currently going around with odds of $3.80 with PlayUp.

Another 3YO, so will only have to carry 55.5kg on his back like Switzerland. There are a few question marks as this will be the first time he’ll be racing at 1,000m but jockey Mark Zahra sticks and the pair have developed a good relationship. Certainly a winning chance and he has to be respected.

Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Best Roughie - Mornington Glory

For all my roughie bettors out there, I’ll be having a little each-way play on Mornington Glory in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. The gelding is going around with odds of $31 right now at PlayUp, so there’s a stack of value there. The Group 1 winner hasn’t been seen since late October when he finished third in the McEwen Stakes.

The thing that has convinced me to put forward Mornington Glory over others is his 1,000m form. He has registered five wins from five attempts. He has also won at this track and trip before, back in January 2024. Since then, he has put in consistent performances and while he does draw a wide barrier, a top-three finish isn’t out of the picture.

We here at OnlyRacing recommend you bet on a wide range of markets on different betting apps, so you get the most out of not only the feature race in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes but also the rest of the meet on Saturday the 14th of February 2026 at Flemington Racecourse, Victoria. 

Listed below are a few market suggestions to get on come race day:

• Quaddie at Flemington Racecourse.
• Quinella/ Trifecta/ First Four in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes race.
• Fixed Win/ Place bets on your favourite runners in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and across the whole meet at Flemington Racecourse.
• Multi bet across multiple races at the Flemington Racecourse Black Caviar Lightning Stakes meet.
  

Now that you’ve got your betting options, the question remains - who should you bet with? It’s an age-old question! You’ve got so many horse racing betting sites to choose from, how could you possibly make a decision? Well, that’s where OnlyRacing comes in handy.

We’ve studied all the best Australian betting sites, and even provide comprehensive reviews on each of them (if you’re interested). After all our research, we’ve found it is a good idea to have multiple bookie accounts, because they all offer something a little bit different and you don’t want to pass up on the potential of better odds or new betting sites bonuses!

To start with, we like PlayUp. They are one of the best betting apps and have got some truly unique promotions on offer, like getting an extra 15% winnings for being a horse owner. Other bookies are more in tune with the racing punter, while others have something for everyone. 

Volcanobet is another of our recommended bookies because it brings back the fun in punting. If you’re a punter who doesn’t take things too seriously, then you’ll love using Volcanobet. Be sure to look out for their betting promotions as well!

If competitive odds are something you are on the lookout for, then EliteBet is the bookie for you. They are known in the market for offering great odds, and as well as this, they have some of the best promotions going around (but you’ll have to sign up to see just how good they are!).

So, there are three of our top recommended bookies. If you’re looking for more recommendations on who to bet with on the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, check out our “Betting Sites” section above!

The field for the 2026 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes isn’t available just yet. Each year, the field is confirmed during race week and while we don’t yet know which runners will be lining up, if history is anything to go by, it will be a quality field with heaps of top-notch sprinters.

Please keep in mind that as the 2026 field isn’t confirmed for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, the odds will likely change in the hours leading up to the big race. A lot of aspects can influence the odds, including large bets on specific runners.

While we wait for the 2026 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes field to be confirmed, check out the runners that took part in the race in 2025:

For the 2025 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, we saw a total of 12 runners confirmed, which is a jump from the eight runners we saw in 2024! There weren’t any emergencies listed either, which means the field size was reduced to 10 as we saw two pre-race scratchings in I Am Me and Mornington Glory.

Scratchings are very commonplace, even in key races like the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. It can happen on the day of the race or even just minutes before the jump and while it can be annoying if the horse you bet on ends up being scratched, rest easy knowing that you will get your cash back into your account.

Another key factor to look at within the final field is the barrier draw. The barrier each runner starts in can have a huge impact on how the race will pan out. Like with any race, certain barriers have seen more winners than others and there are some barriers that both jockeys and trainers don’t want to see their horse draw.

If you’re going to be betting on the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, you’ll need to know more about the stats and form guide that makes up this great race. As they say, “the stats don’t lie”! You need to have all the information, so you’re able to make the best decision possible.

Here at OnlyRacing, we’ve put together all the key form guide information you’ll need if you’re going to place a bet this year on the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Each race is different and this means there is a different form to look into. So, let’s take a look, shall we?

As we’ve seen in recent years, the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes attracts a small field, which is mostly due to the weight-for-age conditions of the race. Due to the small field, you’ll find that the barrier draw isn’t of as much significance, but it is still worth having a quick look at nonetheless. 

As the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is a Group 1, you’ll find the field is stacked with high-quality sprinters. We’ve found that horses tackling this key race first up have had success. On the other hand, those runners who have already kicked off their campaign have usually run in the Group 2 Australia Stakes, the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes or the Listed Adams Stakes.

As this race attracts high-quality runners, you’ll find that most of the winners of this race have already previously won a Group 1, so keep a lookout for that. The race is a tough shootout due to the length of only 1,000m, so look for more mature horses that can handle the pressure.

While some punters simply like to back the favourite, in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, the strike rate of favourites hasn’t been too crash hot. On the flip side, double-digit runners should be avoided as well. Look for a runner that isn’t necessarily the favourite, but their odds aren't above $10 either. 

In 2024, race favourite, Imperatriz, won the race. While, in 2025, we saw Skybird with the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and the mare jumped with odds of $26. Skybird was the first winner with double-digit odds since 2020 when Gytrash was victorious.

We see top horses competing in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, and this has been true for many decades now.  At OnlyRacing, we have emboldened four different winners from four different periods for vastly different reasons. 

The goal in mind? To provide you guys with some of the top horses that have ever competed (and won) the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Check out the four key horses from previous editions of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes here:

Gay Vista - 1955

The first champion of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, then the Lightning Stakes, Gay Vista was a journeyman horse that raced in several different countries. He was always a spectacle on Australian soil though.

Gay Vista boasted an incredible 16 wins from 25 starts, one of which was the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Gay Vista moved to the USA a couple of years after gaining the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes honours, proving successful there too, winning five of eight runs.

Placid Ark - 1987

One name that might not stick out as much as the others on our list of notable winners at the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is Placid Ark, the winner of the 1987 iteration of the Lightning Stakes. What makes Placid Ark so interesting is his price tag of merely $5,000. 

A great purchase this would prove to be as Placid Ark bestowed his trainers and stable with not only a win in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, but also the Canterbury Stakes, the Newmarket Handicap, the Winterbottom Stakes, and the Oakleigh Plate. Some returns for a $5,000 horse! Placid Ark finished with 14 wins from 21 starts, including three other placings.

Black Caviar - 2011-2013

I sincerely hope as a reader of OnlyRacing you are at least somewhat familiar with the name of one of the greatest race horses to ever live. Black Caviar not only won the Lightning Stakes in three successive years (2011-2013), but she is the reason the race was renamed. From 2013 onwards the 1,000m sprint race at Flemington Racecourse was and is known as the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

There are many specific points in time to highlight for the unbeaten Black Caviar, however, a poignant time in the great horse’s career was after her third and final win at the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Following her victory, Black Caviar took out the William Reid Stakes and Randwick’s TJ Smith Stakes before the pin was pulled on her career.

Black Caviar is widely regarded around the world as one of the all-time greats, with an unbeaten record to boot. We may never see one like her again, but her legacy lives on as the name of Victoria’s feature sprint race, the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

Nature Strip - 2021

Nature Strip is a gun. No other way to put it. He was also the favourite going into the 2023 race and was paired with his usual jockey partner James McDonald (what a combo). A nice win at the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes for Nature Strip in 2021 ensured he would be favourite once more come the next couple of iterations of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. 

However, in 2022 the race did not go as planned. Despite this, Nature Strip came into the 2023 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes as the undeniable favourite. Once again, things didn’t work out for him, as his 2021 victory remains his only one.

Probably the most important piece of the puzzle: the odds! Long before the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes final field is announced in all its glory, all the top horse racing betting apps will open markets for the race.

The odds in horse racing markets will change dramatically as the days tick over closer to the big race. At this stage, our top bookie PlayUp, hasn’t released their betting markets for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes in 2026.

You’ll see significant fluctuations in the odds once they are released, as horses will be targeting different races. There is a chance that the horse you bet on doesn’t even end up running in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. If you bet on the race “Before Noms” you will get your bet back if your horse isn’t included in the final field.

We believe one of the best times to bet on the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is “Before Noms” because you could pick up the eventual favourite (or a strong contender) for double-digit odds. Then, even if your horse isn’t in the final field, you still get your money back. If you are betting in the “All-In” market, be aware because you won’t get your bet back if your horse doesn’t run.

While we wait for the 2026 odds, you can check out where each runner stacked up for the 2025 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes here:

*Odds correct as of 13/02/2025.

Time for a history lesson! The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is no doubt one of the best races on the Group 1 calendar, but what has intrigued punters over the years is the enigma that is the Flemington Racecourse. When it comes to Group Ones during horse racing carnivals, the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is steeped in history.

Flemington Racecourse is not only the home of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (formerly known as the Lightning Stakes) but has been hosting races since the 1840s. The history of this great racecourse came to fruition when the Australian Parliament handed over legal control of the Flemington Racecourse site to the Victoria Racing Club back in 1871. 

Since then, the track has hosted some of the most notable events not just on the Australian racing calendar, but internationally. Whilst Flemington Racecourse hosts huge events such as the Australian Cup, the Newmarket Handicap, and the Victoria Derby, there is no race bigger than its most notable, the Melbourne Cup. Australia’s most prestigious race calls Flemington Racecourse its home. 

If you need some stats on how important Flemington Racecourse is, have a look at a quick breakdown of the total Group 1-3 races held annually:

• Group 1 –13 races
• Group 2 – 9 races
• Group 3 – 14 races

The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is just one of many races on the calendar. If you want to learn more about other key races, make sure you check out our Group One races list. We’ve got all the details you need!

As soon as the race has been run, punters who weren’t lucky enough to watch the race live will be frantically searching online for the results! Have you come out a winner, or will you be having 2-minute noodles for dinner tonight?

The 2025 Black Caviar Lighting Stakes was won by a roughie in Skybird, who was paying $26 to win the race. It was an incredible last-to-first win and the mare finished 1L ahead of the rest of the field. Stretan Angel, another roughie, finished in second place and was ridden by Lachlan Neindorf.

Filling in the final minor placing was Benedetta and she completed the trifecta for the mares in the Black Caviar Lighting Stakes, 2.8L off the pace. In the end, the race was run in a time of 0:59.05 and there was a total of 10.7L that split the first and last runners across the finishing line.

Check out the full Black Caviar Lightning Stakes results for the 2025 race here:

If you're more of a visual person, we've got your back here at OnlyRacing! Check out the full race replay of the 2025 edition of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes

When it comes to racing, there can only be one winner in every race, and we’ve got them all (well, up until 2010, that is!). Check out the table to see all the most recent winners of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes:

You’ve almost reached the end of the page, congratulations! Gold star for you! But before you go, if you’ve got any more burning questions about the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, hopefully we’ve answered them in this section.