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The first Group 1 of the year is upon us this weekend with a small but elite field of sprinters set to do battle in the Black Caviar Lightning 2026 at HQ where gun young colt Tentyris is the punters’ pick.
Flemington comes to life hosting the opening top-grade race of the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival on Saturday and we’ve got eight horses engaged in an intriguing edition of the $1 million Black Caviar Lightning (1000m).
The sharp, short-distance feature has been won by some of Australian racing history’s best including the event’s now namesake, three-time champion Black Caviar (2011-13), and Saturday afternoon will see the next champion crowned.
Black Caviar Lightning betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is firmly led by the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Street Boss colt Tentyris at $2.40 who is out to be the first three-year-old winner since Home Affairs (2022) and the filly Coolangatta (2023) went back-to-back.
A winner of four of his seven career starts ahead of his autumn return, the young champ races for the first time since his groundbreaking Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes victory down the straight at HQ during the Melbourne Cup Carnival last year.
He’s a two-time winner from three runs at HQ and will carry 55.5kg at WFA from barrier seven with Damian Lane, who rode him for a Group 1 Blue Diamond second last autumn, coming aboard for the ride.
Tentyris has trialled up nicely ahead of his return, he’s well-proven at Flemington and it’s easy to see why the money is coming for him now.
The danger occupying the second line of Black Caviar Lightning betting this season is the also resuming Giga Kick ($4.50) for Clayton Douglas.
The now six-year-old son of Scissor Kick is best known for his 2022 win in the world’s richest turf race but the former The Everest hero showed he still had a zest for racing rounding out his last prep in enormous fashion with his Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) win here over a crack field.
Jockey Ethan Brown comes aboard in place of the injured Mark Zahra and had a sit on the $14.8 million earner in a recent trial when second to My Gladiola on Caulfield’s The Heath track in late January.
Two other runners are currently at single figure Black Caviar Lightning odds at time of publish with Baraqiel ($6.50) and Beiwacht ($8.50).
Snitzel seven-year-old Baraqiel is undefeated first-up and shapes up as a threat fresh from barrier five with Ben Allen engaged for the ride.
While yet to win at Flemington, Baraqiel is a 1000m specialist having won both his wins over the distance to date including the Group 1 Moir Stakes at The Valley during the spring.
At his latest he was far from disgraced when runner-up to Charm Stone in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes last October and he’s sure to have support in the markets for Saturday.
Beiwacht meanwhile lines-up for trainer Chris Waller who chases his third win in the event following his back-to-back wins with Nature Strip (2021) and Home Affairs (2022).
Ben Melham rides the talented and well-bred Bivouac colt from a favourable gate three draw with the returning Group 1 Golden Rose champion looking to turn the tables on his last start conqueror following his fourth in the Coolmore Stud Stakes when holding his own in his first run outside of Sydney last November.
For value the best of the rest in the Black Caviar Lightning field include the Michael Freedman-trained Golden Slipper winning filly Marhoona ($10) and talented I Am Invincible filly My Gladiola ($12) who thrives at the course.
The 2026 Black Caviar Lightning is set to run as Flemington Race 8 at 4:10pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s 10-race card.
Black Caviar Lightning 2026 Odds
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1. Giga Kick (6)
J: Ethan Brown 58.5kg
T: Clayton Douglas |
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| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of three-and-a-half months. Finished off last campaign by head this track G1 Vrc Sprint November 8 over 1200m in the wet defeating Magic Time carrying 58.5kg at $5. Previous preparation first-up won by 1.0 len Caulfield G2 Schillaci October 11 over 1100m defeating Tropicus carrying 58.5kg at $7. Back at the top of the sprint ranks in the spring and profile is big for this. | ||
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2. Baraqiel (5)
J: Ben Allen 58.5kg
T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin |
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| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of five months. Finished off last preparation second of 10 at Moonee Valley in the G1 Manikato September 26 over 1200m, 2 len behind Charm Stone carrying 58.5kg at $4.60. Previous preparation first-up won by 1.3 len Moonee Valley LR Norman Carlyon August 23 over 1000m defeating Midwest with 59kg at $3.60. Tough and terrific and not overlooked having won the Moir this trip. | ||
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3. Benedetta (1)
J: Jamie Melham 56.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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| First-up. Finished off last campaign second last of 9 at Ascot in the G1 Winterbottom November 29 over 1200m, 2.5 len behind Libertad with 56.5kg at $17. First up last campaign seventh of 9 at Caulfield in the G2 Schillaci October 11 over 1100m, 4 len behind Giga Kick carrying 56.5kg at $7.50. Placed this race last year and that’s enough to consider her. | ||
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4. Tentyris (7)
J: Damian Lane 55.5kg
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
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| Colt back from a spell of three-and-a-half months. Has placed previously first up from a break. Finished off last preparation won by 2.25 len this track G1 Coolmore Stud November 1 over 1200m defeating My Gladiola with 57kg at $2.90. First up last campaign third of 9 at this track in the G2 Danehill October 4 over 1100m, 1.5 len behind Mcgaw with 58.5kg at $7.50. Glamour colt show starred here in the Coolmore and has big things in store. | ||
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5. Beiwacht (3)
J: Ben Melham 55.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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| Resuming. Finished off last campaign fourth of 12 at this track in the G1 Coolmore Stud November 1 over 1200m, 4 len behind Tentyris with 57kg at $3.80. When resuming last campaign third of 7 at Rosehill in the G3 S Domenico August 30 over 1100m, soft track; 2 len behind Raging Force with 57.5kg at $16. Rose win was a cracker but 1000m might be a test. | ||
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6. Marhoona (4)
J: Michael Dee 53.5kg
T: Michael Freedman |
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| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation third of 8 at Rosehill in the G2 Rom Consul October 11 over 1200m, 0.8 len behind Hidden Motive with 54.5kg at $2. Previous preparation first-up favourite; won by 0.7 len Rosehill LR Heritage September 27 over 1100m defeating Akaysha carrying 58kg at $3. Slipper winner who did enough in the spring and can be better this time around. | ||
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7. My Gladiola (8)
J: Jamie Mott 53.5kg
T: John Mcardle |
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| Filly returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last campaign third of 16 at Caulfield in the G3 Thbrd Club November 15 over 1200m, 1.5 len behind Inkaruna with 57.5kg at $1.90. When resuming last campaign second of 10 at Caulfield in the G3 Quezette August 16 over 1100m, soft track; a long neck behind Ferivia with 58kg at $7. Fast and loved the straight in the spring. | ||
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8. Military Tycoon (2)
J: Harry Coffey 53.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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| Second run back. First-up after nine months sat on the pace when 2nd of 12 at this track 3yo F Hcp on January 10 over 1100m, 1.0 len behind Jenni The Ninja carrying 59.5kg at $3.90. Previously second-up 9th of 16 at Rosehill in the G1 G Slipper on March 22 over 1200m, 4.5 len behind Marhoona carrying 54.5kg at $31. Pitched up way beyond her station. | ||
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