The showpiece of the Saturday race card at Flemington this week is the $750,000 Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) and here the Races.com.au team have the insider 2011 Lightning Stakes Betting Tips.

Scheduled to run as Flemington Race 6 on Saturday February 19, the 2011 Lightning Stakes is due to jump at 4:10pm (AEDST).

The world’s highest-rated sprinter Black Caviar has a stranglehold on the Lighting Stakes betting and is the odds-on favourite to win the opening leg of the prestigious Global Sprint Challenge.

Prepared by Peter Moody, the immeasurably talented Bel Esprit mare is out to extend her stunning succession of wins to nine with a victory in the Lightning Stakes and is paying $1.40 to do so at our preferred online bookmaker Luxbet.

There are countless reasons why Australia’s sprint queen can and will win.

Black Caviar is the only unbeaten runner in the field.

She meets many of her male rivals better off under the weight-for-age conditions set to carry 56.5kg from barrier seven with Luke Nolen in the mount.

Recently crowned the World Champion sprinter, Black Caviar’s speed is blistering and down the Flemington Straight over 1000m she will be very hard to beat to say the least.

There has been nothing in Black Caviar’s lead-up to suggest she won’t be at her best and thrash her rivals yet again.

She did it in her first Group 1 assignment last start in the Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) here on November 6, Star Witness coming the closet but still beaten by four lengths, and she can do it again here.

Flemington Race 6 Tips – 2011 Lightning Stakes Betting

• Races.com.au Favourite: #7 Black Caviar – Rated Special to Win – Bet now at Luxbet

• Best Place Bets: #1 Hay List and #2 Grand Duels

Another day with the favourite below par then perhaps Hay List would have his chance at revenge.

We see the boom sprinter finishing second, improving on his last start 11^th in the Patinack where Hay List failed to produce due to a leg injury.

This time the super consistent son of Statue Of Liberty has no reason not to make it at least a two horse race as Hay List is unbeaten at the distance and if it weren’t for the freakish Black Caviar would be up for another Group 1 win.

To run third and add some value to the winning Lightning Stakes Trifecta is Flemington track specialist Grand Duels.

One of the roughies in the Lightning Stakes betting sitting at a quote of around $41 to win through Luxbet, seven-year-old Grand Duels looks as fit as ever.

The Bryan Cozamanis-trained gelding was the first-up winner of the Listed Kensington Stakes at this track and distance and should fly down the straight coming in a close third.

View the full 2011 Lightning Stakes odds open now at Luxbet.

To take advantage of our tips for the big sprint, or to back your own selections at the best prices, sign up with Luxbet and quote the promotional code BONUSBET to get a free $400 bet you can use on the Lightning Stakes 2011!

Photo courtesy (c) Taron Clarke Photography