Lightning Stakes 2017

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Group 1 $500,000 Lighting Stakes 1000m –
Flemington, Saturday 18 February 2017

The Lightning Stakes is a Group 1 weight-for-age race at Flemington during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival and is run over 1000 metres with prize money of $750,000 during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.
The race was renamed the ‘Black Caviar Lightning’ in 2013 in honour of champion mare Black Caviar, who became the first galloper to win the Lightning Stakes race three years in a row. In 2016 the race was won by the super Chautauqua and Terravista and Japonisme running the places.

The Lightning Stakes is the premier weight-for-age 1000m sprint of the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival. Australia’s best sprinters have won this race over the years including Black Caviar (2011-13), Scenic Blast (2009), Apache Cat (2008), Miss Andretti (2007) and Takeover Target (2006). The Lightning Stakes is run down the Flemington ‘1000m’ straight course with no turns involved that suits horses with a love for the Flemington.

The Newmarket Handicap is run three weeks after the Lightning and is an obvious race to be set for after the Lightning and from there such races as the Galaxy and TJ Smith Stakes during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.