The latest edition of the SAJC Lightning Stakes ran on Saturday, July 26th, 2025 at Adelaide’s Morphettville Racecourse and saw Tamasa filly Cicala ($4) best handle the Heavy (10) track for a narrow win to remain undefeated!
2025 Lightning Stakes Results
The full Lightning Stakes 2025 results and finishing order will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, July 26th, 2025.
- 1st: #13 Cicala
- 2nd: #11 Fieldelo
- 3rd: #1 Sir Now
Unbeaten filly Cicala ($4) extended her perfect record to three wins from as many starts with a commanding victory in the 2025 Lightning Stakes results at Morphettville on Saturday. Trained by Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea and ridden by apprentice hoop Rochelle Milnes, Cicala overcame a wide draw and a bottomless Heavy (10) track to surge home late, narrowly defeating Fieldelo and Sir Now in a performance that confirmed her as a rising star.
The daughter of obscure sire Tamasa, who only produced three foals, Cicala was initially passed in at the 2023 Inglis Digital Sale and later picked up from trainer Jackson Matthews after promising trials. Her win not only marked a first stakes success for her sire but also capped a remarkable rise from unheralded beginnings.
With her proven ability on rain-affected tracks and a strong finishing burst, Cicala is now being considered for further black-type targets, potentially stepping up in distance or heading interstate for spring features.
2025 Lightning Stakes Odds
The latest Lightning Stakes 2025 betting odds will be available right here once released the week of the race so check back for the updated prices on your favourites to win this season’s SAJC Lightning Stakes race in Adelaide.
| 13. Cicala (11) J: Rochelle Milnes 57kg 11T: Will Clarken & Niki O'Shea | ||
| 11. Fieldelo (9) J: Luke Currie 57kg 1x124T: Toby Lake | ||
| 1. Sir Now (10) J: Margaret Collett 59kg 41111T: Darryl Hewitt | ||
| 3. Colmar (6) J: Connor Murtagh 59kg x1722T: R Daniel & T Stanbury | ||
| 5. Major Rumble (8) J: Todd Pannell 59kg 1T: Wayne Francis & Glen Kent | ||
| 6. Overfull (12) J: Lachlan Neindorf 57kg 4x421T: Peter Robl | ||
| 2. Scampi (4) J: Jordan Childs 59kg 15161T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 12. Daisydoo (1) J: Sairyn Fawke 57kg 31132T: Justin Pickering | ||
| 9. Madame Maserati (7) J: Jason Holder 57kg 51117T: Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans | ||
| 8. Always Enuff (3) J: Zac Spain 57kg 73x11T: Shane Nichols | ||
| 4. Dapper Darri (5) J: Liam Riordan 59kg 11x1T: Shea Eden | ||
| 10. Out Of Square (2) J: Jake Toeroek 57kg 19113T: Richard & Chantelle Jolly |
The Lightning Stakes is a Listed sprint race conducted by the South Australian Jockey Club (SAJC) at the end of July each season as part of the wider Adelaide Winter Racing Carnival.
Run and won at Morphettville Racecourse, the Black-Type showdown takes place over 1050m and offers $120,000 in prize money as of 2024.
The event is not to be confused with the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) held at Flemington in February during the autumn racing season.
The SAJC Lightning Stakes is open only to two-year-old and three-year-old runners, takes place at set weights, and is the last Black-Type race of the season in Australia.
The race has been contested since 1974 and the Bart Cummings-trained Storm Duke was the inaugural Lightning Stakes winner.
It was previously been known as the Dermody Stakes and held Group 3 before being downgraded to its current Listed status in 2006.
Cheltenham was the original race track the event was held on over 1000m, before a move to Morphettville and 1050m in 2009.
Plenty of nice types have won the Lightning Stakes in South Australia over the years including, most famously, the then Darren Weir-trained Nature Strip (2018). Nature Strip would go on to train with Chris Waller for an illustrious career headlined by eight Group 1 Australian wins, th The Everest race in 2021 and his Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes victory by 4.5 lengths at Royal Ascot in the UK in 2022.
Lightning Stakes Race Info
- Date: 2025
- Track: Morphettville Racecourse
- Distance: 1050m
- Conditions: 2YOs & 3YOs – Set Weights
- Status: Listed
- Prize Money: $120,000
- First Run: 1974
Lightning Stakes Betting
The Lightning Stakes betting odds are usually led by the season’s top performing Adelaide-trained youngsters coming via good lead-up performances in similar grade races.
Proven form at the Morphettville track and those with past wins over at least 1000m in distance sit higher up the Lightning Stakes betting markets each season.
The two-year-old filly Parlophone ($4.20 in 2020), Extremely Lucky ($4 in 2022) and La Danseuse Rouge ($4.40 in 2023) are the latest favourites in SAJC Lightning Stakes betting to salute for the punters.
There was a notable upset in 2024 with Lingani winning at $21 odds.
Lightning Stakes Field
The Lightning Stakes race field is made up of classy local two and three-year-olds coming off earlier winter runs in Adelaide.
A potential lead-up for two-year-olds wanting to drop back in distance into the Lightning Stakes field is the Listed Oaklands Plate (1400m) held at the track a fortnight earlier.
Following a run in the SAJC Lightning Stakes many gallopers may target a next-up start in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1200m) back at the track a fortnight later.
Nominations for the Lightning Stakes are taken on the Monday of race week followed by final acceptances on the Wednesday at 9:30am local time.
2025 Lightning Stakes Field
The official SAJC Lightning Stakes 2025 race field and barriers are set for release on the Wednesday of race week and will be published below showing the top young sprinters engaged to face off in the popular Adelaide Winter Racing Carnival feature.
A host of in-form, young two and three-year-old sprinters will take to the Morphettville track in Saturday’s 2025 Lightning Stakes field including the airborne Sir Now chasing his fifth win on the trot.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Sir Now
J: Margaret Collett
T: Darryl Hewitt |
541111 | G | 10 | 59kg | |
|
2. Scampi
J: Jordan Childs
T: Ciaron Maher |
715161 | G | 4 | 59kg | |
|
3. Colmar
J: Connor Murtagh
T: R Daniel & T Stanbury |
6x1722 | G | 6 | 59kg | |
|
4. Dapper Darri
J: Liam Riordan
T: Shea Eden |
11x1 | G | 5 | 59kg | |
|
5. Major Rumble
J: Todd Pannell
T: Wayne Francis & Glen Kent |
1 | G | 8 | 59kg | |
|
6. Overfull
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Peter Robl |
54x421 | F | 12 | 57kg | |
| 7. Manolo Bling (16) Scratched: | |||||
|
8. Always Enuff
J: Zac Spain
T: Shane Nichols |
173x11 | F | 3 | 57kg | |
|
9. Madame Maserati
J: Jason Holder
T: Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans |
x51117 | F | 7 | 57kg | |
|
10. Out Of Square
J: Jake Toeroek
T: Richard & Chantelle Jolly |
119113 | F | 2 | 57kg | |
|
11. Fieldelo
J: Luke Currie
T: Toby Lake |
1x124 | F | 9 | 57kg | |
|
12. Daisydoo
J: Sairyn Fawke
T: Justin Pickering |
131132 | F | 1 | 57kg | |
|
13. Cicala
J: Rochelle Milnes
T: Will Clarken & Niki O'Shea |
11 | F | 11 | 57kg | |
| 14. Prancing Diva (5) Scratched: | |||||
| 15. Hello Romeo (13) Scratched: | |||||
| 16. Conscience (15) Scratched: | |||||
2025 Lightning Stakes Nominations
The SAJC Lightning Stakes 2025 nominations close on the Monday of race week, two days prior to final acceptances.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7x10173x11 | ALWAYS ENUFF | F | 3 | Shane Nichols | 75 |
| 2 | 02231 | ANECDOTAL | G | 3 | David Jolly | 62 |
| 3 | 1535×91331 | BRIDAL WALTZ | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 84 |
| 4 | 1x | CASH | C | 3 | Michael Hickmott | 64 |
| 5 | 11 | CICALA | F | 3 | Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea | 64 |
| 6 | x6566x1722 | COLMAR | G | 3 | Ron Daniel & Trish Stanbury | 73 |
| 7 | 1x | CONSCIENCE | F | 2 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 65 |
| 8 | 21x2331x | DAELLA | F | 3 | Cliff Brown | 67 |
| 9 | 643×131132 | DAISYDOO | F | 3 | Justin Pickering | 67 |
| 10 | 11×1 | DAPPER DARRI | G | 3 | Shea Eden | 72 |
| 11 | 6 | ELEGANT LILLY | F | 2 | Shane & Cassie Oxlade | 56 |
| 12 | 14×1530348 | ENUFF SEDUCTION | G | 3 | Shayne & Chelsea Cahill | 64 |
| 13 | 1×124 | FIELDELO | F | 3 | Toby Lake | 68 |
| 14 | 2148×14 | HELLO ROMEO (NZ) | G | 2 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 69 |
| 15 | 40×21 | KORATORA | F | 3 | Travis Doudle | 62 |
| 16 | x156x51117 | MADAME MASERATI | F | 3 | Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans | 75 |
| 17 | 1 | MAJOR RUMBLE | G | 3 | Wayne Francis & Glen Kent | 60 |
| 18 | 21x63x1438 | MANOLO BLING | F | 3 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 78 |
| 19 | 415x | MEH KEFFI | F | 3 | Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans | 62 |
| 20 | 661x | NO LIMITATION | F | 2 | Clayton Douglas | 65 |
| 21 | 33×119113 | OUT OF SQUARE | F | 3 | Richard & Chantelle Jolly | 73 |
| 22 | x02354x421 | OVERFULL | F | 3 | Peter Robl | 80 |
| 23 | PRANCING DIVA | F | 3 | David Huxtable | 58 | |
| 24 | 112x | SALUTED | F | 2 | Robbie Griffiths | 69 |
| 25 | 166×1342 | SAVAGERY VIBE | F | 3 | Nick Ryan | 70 |
| 26 | x5x1715161 | SCAMPI | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 76 |
| 27 | x221541111 | SIR NOW | G | 3 | Darryl Hewitt | 87 |
| 28 | 22×1173 | SUN SETTING | F | 3 | Matt Laurie | 66 |
| 29 | 1 | TANNA | G | 3 | Ron Daniel & Trish Stanbury | 58 |
| 30 | 7x24x2 | THUNDER SHOC | F | 3 | Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea | 59 |
| 31 | 2134 | VAIN CHAMPAGNE | F | 3 | Nick Ryan | 62 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Lightning Stakes Tips
The key Lightning Stakes betting tips are to back in-form youngsters from local Adelaide stables coming via a lead-up run in the other winter two-year-old or three-year-old features at the track.
Last start winners make a nice tip in the event, as do the higher rated and weighted runners. Between 2018 and 2025 four of the eight Lightning Stakes winners carried 59kg to victory most recently Extremely Lucky (2022).
Fillies have a credible record over the boys in the race. Since 2000, 15 fillies have won the SAJC Lightning Stakes including four two-year-old fillies the latest of which was Parlophone (2020). Parlophone also returned to run second to Beau Rossa in the 2021 edition.
Cicala (2025) was the last three-year-old Lightning Stakes winning filly.
2025 Lightning Stakes Tips
The Ladbrokes’ insider SAJC Lightning Stakes 2025 betting tips and Morphettville race selections on the July showdown will be detailed right here the week of the race so stay tuned for the top runners to back for a win in the Black-Type showdown.
- To Win: #1 Sir Now ($6.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW
So many last start winners in this field it’s a tough one for punters, but the picket fence SIR NOW (11) is out to extend is pretty imposing which is why I have him on top even from the wider draw in this short sprint. Darryl Hewitt’s Sir Prancealot gelding is going great guns coming into this Black-Type test off a rich vein of form having won his past four on the trot. Trained out of Murray Bridge, this young flyer is well tested having won seven of his 13 starts to date. He’s proven at the track (3:1-1-0) and comes off a last start win at Morphettville Parks. Only narrowly won that over 1000m defeating BEAST MODE and goes up a half-kilo to what he carried but looks up to the task. Meets them even at set weights and happy to suggest he’ll overcome the alley. Can win.
Lightning Stakes Form Guide
The Lightning Stakes race form guide revels to punters all the relevant information they need to place a successful bet on the race like the barriers, jockeys, trainers and lead-up form of all the runners in the field.
The SAJC Lightning Stakes form has gone on to hold up in tougher grade races interstate many times over the years most famously with the subsequent success, both in Australian and overseas, of the 2018 champ Nature Strip who defeated star filly Sunlight by six lengths.
More recently the 2021 Lightning Stakes form was franked with the winner Beau Rossa going on to place second two runs later in Melbourne’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).
The 2022 Lightning Stakes third placed Kallos went on to frank the form running second that October in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m).
The 2023 Lightning Stakes form was franked by the third place-getter Boognish who won the following year’s Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m).
2025 Lightning Stakes Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive SAJC Lightning Stakes 2025 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Lightning Stakes Results
Notable horses to head the SAJC Lightning Stakes race results over the years include Dantana (2003), Streetcar Magic (2010), Avoid Lightning (2012), Wild Rain (2015), Viddora (2016), and subsequent The Everest 2021 hero Nature Strip (2018).
Nature Strip (2018) also holds the SAJC Lightning Stakes race record winning in a time of 1 minute 00:68 seconds.
Lingani (2024) and Cicala (2025) are the latest SAJC Lightning Stakes winning fillies.
Past SAJC Lightning Stakes Winners
Recent Lightning Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
| 2025 | Cicala | Fieldelo | Sir Now |
| 2024 | Lingani | Kuroyanagi | Aviatress |
| 2023 | La Danseuse Rouge | Sweetened | Boognish |
| 2022 | Extremely Lucky | Calla Dream | Kallos |
| 2021 | Beau Rossa | Parlophone | Esta La Roca |
| 2020 | Parlophone | Streetcar Stranger | Just Zerene |
| 2019 | Assertive Approach | Behemoth | Excess Funds |
| 2018 | Nature Strip | Sunlight | Fancy Rumble |
| 2017 | Bandipur | Arkham Knight | Mystified |
| 2016 | Viddora | Ocean Embers | Showpero |
| 2015 | Wild Rain | Cashed | Trupt |
| 2014 | Buddy Bundy | Herenoa | Pistolier |
| 2013 | Prettyhappyaboutit | Thermal Current | Heart Of A Lion |
| 2012 | Avoid Lightning | Vatican | Le Societe |
| 2011 | Kulgrinda | Amy’s Glen | Obsidian Dragon |
| 2010 | Streetcar Magic | General Truce | Obsidian Dragon |
| 2009 | Augusta Proud | Cerberus Gal | Orbiting Belle |
| 2008 | Morgan Dollar | Distinctive Lass | Gold Chant |
| 2007 | Lisson Grove | Diplomatic Force | Zupaone |
| 2006 | Reshuffles | Aadelaidee | Follow The Till |
| 2005 | Emlozza | Dinkum Star | Seidnazar |
| 2004 | Our Quivira | Barabba Road | Grace And Power |
| 2003 | Dantana | Maybe McLaren | Keetah’s Lady |
| 2002 | Innovation Girl | Dual Spark | Presumed Innocent |
| 2001 | Raja Lane | Obadele | Star Hit |
| 2000 | Vargna | Stand By Me | Freedom Funds |
Who won the 2025 Lightning Stakes?
The 2025 Lightning Stakes was won by three-year-old Tamasa filly Cicala at $4 for trainers Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea with apprentice jockey Rochelle Milnes aboard on 57kg from barrier 11 to win by 0.16 lengths in a time of 1:05.73 on a Heavy (10) track.
When is the SAJC Lightning Stakes 2025?
Saturday, July 26th, 2025What is the prize money for the SAJC Lightning Stakes 2025?
$120,000
Where is the SAJC Lightning Stakes 2025?
Morphettville Racecourse, 79 Morphett Rd, Morphettville SA 5043.
This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team.
How do I bet on the 2025 Lightning Stakes?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at ladbrokes.com.au. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.
Which horse will win the 2025 Lightning Stakes?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Lightning Stakes is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.