Mark Walker’s brilliant mare Imperatriz gets her autumn underway at Flemington on Saturday chasing her incredible ninth Group 1 success as the odds-on elect in Black Caviar Lightning 2024 betting.

Star mare Imperatriz is odds-on to salute in yet another Group 1 in Melbourne’s Black Caviar Lightning 2024 first-up on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Kiwi expat dominates an eight-horse field in this year’s Group 1 $1 million Black Caviar Lightning (1000m).

The short-distance showdown is tipped to go the way of I Am Invincible five-year-old Imperatriz who pays $1.90 in the latest Black Caviar Lightning odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.

She was huge in the spring stringing together four straight victories in Melbourne including Group 1 wins in the Moir, Manikato and Champions Sprint at Headquarters.

Her first-up record is imposing (6:5-0-1), she is proven at the track, two-from-two at the distance, and with New Zealander Opie Bosson down under for the ride from a gun barrier two draw she certainly shapes up as the one to beat.

Three of her rivals are under double-figures for an upset including the $5 second elect Private Eye also fresh.

Blake Shinn rides Joe Pride’s smart Al Maher six-year-old from the outside gate eight draw.

Private Eye was last seen backing up from his brave third in the $20 million The Everest to place second behind Bella Nipotina in Rosehill’s $3 million Giga Kick Stakes (1300m).

Saturday has him racing in Melbourne for the first time since his fourth fresh to In Secret at Flemington in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) last March.

Ciaron Maher’s Giga Kick Stakes winning mare Bella Nipotina and the consistent Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans-trained I Am Unstoppable are the other dangers at $7.

Classy Pride Of Dubai chestnut Bella Nipotina is the early Black Caviar Lightning market mover with support for the $7.99 million earner to return to winning form first-up.

She was last seen running two lengths fifth to Imperatriz here in the Champions Sprint over the Melbourne Cup Carnival and will need luck to turn the tables as she is yet to win at Flemington (8:0-1-3).

I Am Unstoppable takes on the older horses here with the colt out to become the third straight three-year-old Black Caviar Lightning winner joining Home Affairs (2022) and Coolangatta (2023).

The youngster has had three runs at the course for three seconds including at his latest run in the Coolmore Stud Stakes last November.

The 2024 Black Caviar Lightning is set to run as Flemington Race 8 at 4:15pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s ten-race card with markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available in full by clicking here.

2024 Black Caviar Lightning Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.