Ladbrokes Tip: Sprinters with good straight track and first-up form are perfectly suited to resume in the Black Caviar Lightning
The latest edition of the Black Caviar Lightning ran on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at Flemington Racecourse to kick off Group 1 racing for the season in Melbourne and was won in a brilliant return by Anthony & Sam Freedman’s Coolmore Stud Stakes winning colt Tentyris ($2.60F).
2026 Black Caviar Lightning Results
The official Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Results 2026 and Finishing Order will be known on Saturday, February 14, 2026 and published below as soon as the autumn feature is run and won.
- #4 Tentyris
- #7 My Gladiola
- #3 Benedetta
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Coolmore Stud Stakes winning Street Boss colt Tentyris ($2.60F) was too good fresh making up ground late in a barnstorming finish thanks to a gun ride by Damian Lane to beat home his older rivals first-up for another Group 1 Flemington success in the 2026 Black Caviar Lightning results on Saturday. His win over the brave filly My Gladiola has him on target for a shot at the Group 1 $2 million Newmarket Handicap on March 7 pending a weight decision by the handicappers.
2026 Black Caviar Lightning Odds
The latest Black Caviar Lightning 2026 betting odds will be available below as soon as released so stay tuned for the best autumn racing odds on the season’s top sprinters.
| 4. Tentyris (7) J: Damian Lane 55.5kg x311xT: Anthony & Sam Freedman | ||
| 7. My Gladiola (8) J: Jamie Mott 53.5kg 1223xT: John Mcardle | ||
| 3. Benedetta (1) J: Jamie Melham 56.5kg x758xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 2. Baraqiel (5) J: Ben Allen 58.5kg x112xT: L & T Corstens & W Larkin | ||
| 1. Giga Kick (6) J: Ethan Brown 58.5kg 6x11xT: Clayton Douglas | ||
| 6. Marhoona (4) J: Michael Dee 53.5kg 1x13xT: Michael Freedman | ||
| 8. Military Tycoon (2) J: Harry Coffey 53.5kg 196×2T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 5. Beiwacht (3) J: Ben Melham 55.5kg 3214xT: Chris Waller |
Black Caviar Lightning Tips
Black Caviar Lightning tips traditionally favour horses that have winning form down the testing Flemington straight and any horse that ran top three in the Champions Sprint the previous November is worth a look at.
A top Lightning Stakes tip is to look at runners drawn in single digits as just one winner from 2005-26 has saluted from wider than gate nine in the race.
Single digit hopes in Black Caviar Lightning odds also have a stellar recent record in the race with the only five winners paying over $10 from 2002-2026 being 20/1 shot Scenic Blast who scored the upset in 2009, Terravista upset his rivals first-up at $15 in 2017, Redkirk Warrior ($10) who ran down the $1.80 favourite Redzel in 2018, Gytrash ($21 in 2020) who upset a field of previous Group 1 winners, and the longest-priced winner in the event’s history Skybird ($25 in 2025).
2026 Black Caviar Lightning Tips
The top Black Caviar Lightning 2026 betting tips from our insider team of form experts will be published below the week of the race so stay tuned for the sprinters to get behind in the early autumn feature.
| 4. Tentyris (7) J: Damian Lane 55.5kg x311xT: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
| 1. Giga Kick (6) J: Ethan Brown 58.5kg 6x11xT: Clayton Douglas |
| 7. My Gladiola (8) J: Jamie Mott 53.5kg 1223xT: John Mcardle |
The Black Caviar Lightning, formerly the Lightning Stakes, is currently the first Group 1 race off the annual Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival after the CF Orr was moved to the spring in 2025 and lights up Flemington Racecourse on a Saturday in mid-late February.
It is not to be confused with the Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m), a race for two and three-year-olds held at Morphettville in Adelaide during the winter.
The sprint classic is now known as the Black Caviar Lightning in honour of triple Lightning Stakes winner Black Caviar (2011-13).
Run down the famous Flemington straight over 1000m the short distance clash offers $1 million in prize money as of 2022 and is run under weight-for-age conditions.
The Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) for Australian Guineas hopefuls, the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) for fillies, and the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) are the key support races on Black Caviar Lightning Day.
The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is the first of the three leg Autumn Sprint Series Triple Crown that also features Caulfield’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) the following Saturday and Flemington’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) in March.
Having held Group 1 status since 1987, the Lightning Stakes is also the opening leg of the Global Sprint Challenge and so attracts the season’s top-class stayers who could be internationally bound.
Reigning Australian Racehorse of the Year Nature Strip won the 2021 Black Caviar Lightning and would go on to take out that year’s now $20 million The Everest (1200m) in Sydney at his third attempt.
Nature Strip returned as favourite in the 2022 Black Caviar Lightning but after blowing the start and subsequently suffering interference, he could only manage to run second behind his three-year-old stablemate Home Affairs.
Nature Strip was disappointing in 2023 coming back as the odds-on favourite only to run sixth.
Skybird became the longest-priced Black Caviar Lightning Stakes winner in the race’s 71-year history when winning at $26 in 2025!
Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Race Info
- Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026
- Track: Flemington Racecourse
- Distance: 1000m
- Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Status: Group 1
- Prize Money: $1,000,000
- First Run: 1955
Black Caviar Lightning Betting
Black Caviar Lightning betting markets are usually led by sprinters with previous Group 1 winning form at Flemington including the VRC Sprint Classic over 1200m at the track the November before.
Imperatriz (2024) is the last Black Caviar Lightning winner to have taken out the Sprint Classic – run as the Champions Sprint in 2023 – in her final lead-up.
The other latest horses to complete the double are Redkirk Warrior (2018) and Nature Strip (2021). Nature Strip also won the 2019 VRC Sprint Classic and was runner-up in the 2020 edition of the famous autumn sprint feature. He was narrowly denied completing the VRC Sprint Classic – Black Caviar Lightning double a second time when beaten first-up as the favourite in the 2022 edition of the latter.
Black Caviar (2011) also went on to win the Newmarket after the first of her three Lightning Stakes wins for the punters, the mighty mare saluting as the favourite in Lightning Stakes betting three years in a row.
Black Caviar Lightning odds favour proven straight performers and mares also feature prominently in betting with nine of the winners from 2006 – 2026 being female gallopers, most recently the filly Coolangatta (2023) who was the first three-year-old filly to win since Regimental Gal (2004), Imperatriz (2024), and Skybird (2025) who led an all-mares’ trifecta that year.
Tentyris ($2.60 in 2026) was the last Black Caviar Lightning favourite to win.
Black Caviar Lightning Field
The Black Caviar Lightning race field features the season’s best sprinters and is often the first-up run for the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap hopefuls.
The race typically attracts a smallish field with only one edition of the Lightning Stakes drawing more than a dozen starters in the past 20 years when 15 lined up in the 2002 race won by Spinning Hill.
Many horses in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes field had their final runs at the track the previous spring in the VRC Sprint Classic during the Melbourne Cup Carnival and all but four winners from 2009-22 ran in the top three in their lead-up run.
In 2023 Coolangatta won the race first-up having finished fifth the November prior at the track in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), while the 2025 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Tentyris won the 2026 Black Caviar Lightning first-up.
The Lightning Stakes field also attracts horses that could head to Royal Ascot in England later in the year with the likes of Choisir (2003), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007) and Scenic Blast (2009) all winning the Lightning Stakes – King’s Stand Stakes dual country double.
In 2022 Nature Strip ran second in the Black Caviar Lightning but went on to dominate that year’s King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot by over four lengths.
The 2024 Black Caviar Lightning winner Imperatriz made it six straight Melbourne wins on the trot having won the Group 1 William Reid, Group 2 McEwen, Group 1 Moir, Group 1 Manikato, and Group 1 Champions Sprint in the lead-up the previous year.
2026 Black Caviar Lightning Field
The Black Caviar Lightning field and barrier draw is set to be released on the Wednesday before the race and will be published below.
The Black Caviar Lightning 2026 final field features a small but classy line-up of eight autumn sprinters including resuming Champions Sprint winner Giga Kick, the spring’s Moir Stakes champ Baraqiel and Coolmore Stud Stakes winning colt Tentyris.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Giga Kick
J: Ethan Brown
T: Clayton Douglas |
36x11x | G | 6 | 58.5kg | |
|
2. Baraqiel
J: Ben Allen
T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin |
3x112x | G | 5 | 58.5kg | |
|
3. Benedetta
J: Jamie Melham
T: Ciaron Maher |
7x758x | M | 1 | 56.5kg | |
|
4. Tentyris
J: Damian Lane
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
1x311x | C | 7 | 55.5kg | |
|
5. Beiwacht
J: Ben Melham
T: Chris Waller |
x3214x | C | 3 | 55.5kg | |
|
6. Marhoona
J: Michael Dee
T: Michael Freedman |
21x13x | F | 4 | 53.5kg | |
|
7. My Gladiola
J: Jamie Mott
T: John Mcardle |
21223x | F | 8 | 53.5kg | |
|
8. Military Tycoon
J: Harry Coffey
T: Ciaron Maher |
x196x2 | F | 2 | 53.5kg |
2026 Black Caviar Lightning Nominations
The official Black Caviar Lightning 2026 nominations are taken by Racing Victoria on the Monday of the race and the full list of early entries will be available here once announced.
The Black Caviar Lightning 2026 nominations feature a host of resuming, star sprinters led in all-in betting by Anthony & Sam Freedman’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winning colt Tentyris.
2026 Black Caviar Lightning nominations extended until 10:00am (AEDT) – 10/02/2026
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31163x112x | BARAQIEL | G | 7 | Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | 113 |
| 2 | 2190x3214x | BEIWACHT | C | 3 | Chris Waller | 109 |
| 3 | 02547x758x | BENEDETTA | M | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 109 |
| 4 | 87x1x5181x | CABALLUS | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 108 |
| 5 | 427x36x11x | GIGA KICK | G | 6 | Clayton Douglas | 116 |
| 6 | 121x13x | MARHOONA | F | 3 | Michael Freedman | 104 |
| 7 | 7x196x2 | MILITARY TYCOON | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 76 |
| 8 | 128x21223x | MY GLADIOLA | F | 3 | John McArdle | 100 |
| 9 | 6×56560424 | PHILOSOPHER | G | 6 | Enver Jusufovic | 84 |
| 10 | 5121x311x | TENTYRIS | C | 3 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 110 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Black Caviar Lightning Form Guide
The Black Caviar Lightning form guide features valuable information for punters including the saddlecloth numbers, barriers, jockeys and trainers of each runner in the field.
The form guide for the Lightning Stakes can be used to determine the best value horses in the field by studying their lead-up performances and records at Flemington over 1000m.
The Black Caviar Lightning 2022 form was franked with Nature Strip improving on his second as the beaten favourite to win a record-equalling third TJ Smith Stakes in Sydney before a successful international bid winning Royal Ascot’s Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes in 2022 by a big margin.
The 2023 Black Caviar Lightning runner-up I Wish I Win franked the form when third in the Newmarket Handicap trifecta at his next start before taking out the TJ Smith Stakes in Sydney. He was also excellent in the spring finishing third in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes trifecta and second in the 2023 The Everest results.
The Black Caviar 2023 form was further franked by the third placed mare Bella Nipotina who ran top three in a host of other events including a third in the first edition of Perth’s $4 million The Quokka slot race. She also won the $3 million Winners Stakes in Sydney that spring.
The 2024 Lightning Stakes winner Imperatriz went on to run second in that year’s Newmarket Handicap before claiming her 10th career Group 1 win in the William Reid Stakes.
Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Form Facts
- In the 16 years from 2011 – 2026 six of Lightning Stakes winners came off a last start victory most recently Home Affairs (2022) who won the previous spring’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, Imperatriz (2024) who saluted in the previous November’s Champions Sprint at the track and Tentyris (2026) who also won first-up after a Coolmore Stud Stakes victory the November prior.
- The VRC Sprint Classic (now Champions Sprint) produced nine winners from 2010 – 2026 including Imperatriz (2024) who completed the double.
- From 2011 – 2026 seven editions of the Lightning Stakes have been won by mares – a fact boosted by triple champion Black Caviar and one by the filly Coolangatta in 2023 – with Imperatriz (2024) and Skybird (2025) the latest.
- Favourites have a top record in the race with eight wins from 2006 – 2026.
- Home Affairs (2022) was the first three-year-old Lightning Stakes winner since Fastnet Rock (2005) 17 years earlier. In 2023 Coolangatta became the first three-year-old filly to win in 19 years. Tentyris (2026) is the latest three-year-old to win.
- Only one winner has jumped from double digits since 2005 with Nicconi (11 of 11 in 2010).
2026 Black Caviar Lightning Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Black Caviar Lighting Stakes 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters here the week of the race.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 BLACK CAVIAR LIGHTNING FORM GUIDE
Past Black Caviar Lightning Results
The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes race results and finishing order are out in February when the race runs as the only Group 1 at Flemington during the meeting.
Along with the Black Caviar Lightning winner the results also show the successful quinella, trifecta and margins between each horse that finished the race.
Lightning Stakes results have been dominated by the favourites in the past decade and notable recent Lightning Stakes winners include Fastnet Rock (2005), Miss Andretti (2007), Black Caviar (2011-13), Chautauqua (2016), Redkirk Warrior (2018), Nature Strip (2021), the filly Coolangatta (2023), and champion mare Imperatriz (2024).
Tentyris (2026) was the last three-year-old Black Caviar Lightning winner.
Past Lightning Stakes Winners
Winners and placegetters of the Black Caviar Lightning going back to 2006 can be found in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tentyris | My Gladiola | Benedetta |
| 2025 | Skybird | Stretan Angel | Benedetta |
| 2024 | Imperatriz | Private Eye | Espiona |
| 2023 | Coolangatta | I Wish I Win | Bella Nipotina |
| 2022 | Home Affairs | Nature Strip | Eduardo |
| 2021 | Nature Strip | September Run | Swats That |
| 2020 | Gytrash | Redzel | Loving Gaby |
| 2019 | In Her Time | Osborne Bulls | Sunlight |
| 2018 | Redkirk Warrior | Redzel | Missrock |
| 2017 | Terravista | Spieth | Star Turn |
| 2016 | Chautauqua | Terravista | Japonisme |
| 2015 | Lankan Rupee | Brazen Beau | Deep Field |
| 2014 | Snitzerland | Shamexpress | Samaready |
| 2013 | Black Caviar | Moment Of Change | Golden Archer |
| 2012 | Black Caviar | Hay List | Buffering |
| 2011 | Black Caviar | Hay List | Warm Love |
| 2010 | Nicconi | Wanted | Shellscrape |
| 2009 | Scenic Blast | Typhoon Zed | Grand Duels |
| 2008 | Apache Cat | Swick | Stanzout |
| 2007 | Miss Andretti | Magnus | Ticklish |
| 2006 | Takeover Target | God’s Own | Cape Of Good Hope |
FAQ
Who won the 2026 Black Caviar Lightning?
The 2026 Black Caviar Lightning was won first-up by three-year-old Street Boss colt Tentyris at $2.60 favouritism for trainers Anthony & Sam Freedman with jockey Damian Lane aboard on 55.5kg from barrier 7 to win by 0.75 lengths on a Good (4) track in a time of 0:56.91.
Who won the 2025 Black Caviar Lightning?
The 2025 Black Caviar Lightning was won by Skybird at $26 for trainer Mitchell Freedman with jockey John Allen aboard from barrier 3 on 56.5kg to win by 1 length in a time of 59.05 seconds.
When is the Black Caviar Lightning 2026?
Saturday, February 14, 2026What is the prize money for the Black Caviar Lightning 2026?
$1,000,000
Where is the Black Caviar Lightning 2026?
Flemington Racecourse, 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031.
How do I bet on the 2026 Black Caviar Lightning?
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 2026 Black Caviar Lightning?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Black Caviar Lightning 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.