Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Preview and Tips 15/02/25

Another week, another Group One race. How good! We will continue to see Group One races each week as we gear up for another epic Autumn Racing Carnival and this week it’s the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. The race is worth a whopping $1 million as sees the best sprinters in the country fighting it out at Flemington Racecourse.

It’s a small field of just 12 runners for the 2025 race but is still a fairly significant improvement from the eight runners that took part in the race back in 2024. At the moment, Switzerland holds favouritism with PlayUp and is currently going around with odds of $2.70 to win the Group One.

My Saturday tips for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes have arrived for all your OnlyRacing readers out there. After a successful week last week, tipping the Inglis Millennium winner, I’m ready to continue the winning form. I’ve selected five best bets in total, so there’s something for each and every one of you.

The race in itself is a sprint and I expect the race tempo to be fast, so make sure you aren’t late to the party otherwise, you might miss it! Joyful Fortune, who jumps from barrier one looks to be the likely leader with others like Philosopher and Way To The Stars not too far behind the gelding.

The current favourite, Switzerland, will likely look to stay out of trouble jumping from barrier seven and will probably settle near the rear of the field. All those favourite backers out there will be hoping he gets a good run in transit, waiting for the perfect time to unleash. In a race like this one, timing is everything.

There isn’t a lot between the top two in the market I reckon and it’s always difficult to call these first-up races. However, I have to make a decision and I’m giving a slight edge to Switzerland in this one and the colt is going around with odds of $2.70 with PlayUp, making him the current favourite.

The last time we saw the 3YO was during the Spring Racing Carnival when he won the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes by 2.8L. We see a few of the same sprinters returning here for this one, including Growing Empire who is currently on the second line of betting. Jockey James McDonald retained the ride and Switzerland is carrying just 55.kg.

Another 3YO contesting the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, so the colt only has to carry 55.5kg on his back like the favourite. Bet365 currently has Growing Empire on the second line of betting with odds of $4.00 and I think there’s even a little value there as well, despite the colt’s lack of Group One victories.

Growing Empire had a good Spring Racing Carnival and despite not winning any of the three Group Ones he competed in, he did place in all three. Could this be the time he finally breaks through for his maiden Group One victory? He’s got a pretty good chance if you ask me. Jockey Mark Zahra retains the ride and the pair have a good thing going now.

For your exotics, Mazu looks to present some value. Gets no favours from the barrier draw, but the Group One winner has trialled well, so he is certainly worth considering. Other than his trial, the last time we saw the 6YO was in the Russell Balding Stakes where he finished strongly enough to claim fourth place.

Mazu is going around with odds of $18 with Dabble at the time of writing and he is one to include in the wide exotics. If he can settle in well just of the leaders and gets the right breaks at the right time, he just may give them a sight in the closing stages. At $18, there’s enough value there for you to seriously consider.

While I did find it difficult to split Switzerland and Growing Empire, I Am Me needs to be respected as well. I Am Me has shortened a reasonable amount since opening with QuestBet, after opening with odds of $9.25, the mare is now going around at $7.00. She’s got the raw talent to give this one a good shake.

I’m surprised she opened at almost double-digits and I wouldn’t be shocked if she shortened a little more between now and race jump. Had a decent enough Spring Racing Carnival and comes into this one well-rested as she’s another who last raced in the Russell Balding Stakes. Blake Shinn just trialled with her and he will saddle up again on Saturday.

I think I’ve found a decent roughie in Mornington Glory for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes this Saturday. The geldings record at the 1,000m is perfect, with five wins from five attempts and this includes a win at Flemington as well. This really stands out for me and while he might be unloved in the market, the form is too good to ignore.

At the moment, you can get odds of $26 for Mornington Glory to win the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes with Bet Right. He is a Group One winner and we last saw him in the McEwen Stakes where he finished third by 3.2L. Mornington Glory is a fairly consistent performer and I’ll be having a small play on him to finish top three in this one.

All my Black Caviar Lightning Stakes horse racing tips and their odds can be found here:

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Switzerland (win)	$2.70
	Growing Empire (each-way)	$4.00/$1.70
	Mazu (place)	$4.20
	I Am Me (place)	$2.30
	Mornington Glory (place)	$5.00