| Class | Group 1 |
|---|---|
| Location | Flemington Racecourse Flemington, Victoria |
| Inaugurated | 1955 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1,000 metres |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Straight |
| Qualification | Open |
| Weight | Weight for Age |
| Purse | $1,000,000 (2025) |
| Bonuses | seeGlobal Sprint Challenge |
TheBlack Caviar Lightning, registered as theLightning Stakes, is aVictoria Racing Club Group 1thoroughbred horse race atWeight for Age, run over a distance of 1000 metres atFlemington Racecourse,Melbourne,Australia in February.[1]
The Lightning Stakes forms the first leg of the three leg Autumn sprint series over the Melbourne carnival. It precedes the G1Oakleigh Plate (1100m, open handicap) atCaulfield Racecourse on the third Saturday in February and the G1Newmarket Handicap (1200m, open handicap), Australia's most famous sprinting handicap, also run at Flemington on the first Saturday in March. Horses contesting this race may also head to the G1William Reid Stakes atMoonee Valley Racecourse, run over 1200m atweight-for-age in March.
The name of the race changed from the Lightning Stakes in 2013, to honour sprinting superstarBlack Caviar, who won the race in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
In 2007 the race was run atMoonee Valley Racecourse due to refurbishment work atFlemington Racecourse.
Since 2005 the race has been the first leg of theGlobal Sprint Challenge, followed by theAustralia Stakes and from 2008 followed by theKing's Stand Stakes when theAustralia Stakes was replaced as a leg of the series byThe Age Classic. Until Nicconi's defeat in the 2010King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot held in June, this race has proved an outstanding guide to the winner of that race, with Choisir (2003),Takeover Target (2006),Miss Andretti (2007) andScenic Blast (2009) all winning this race before subsequently winning at Royal Ascot later that year.
The following are past winners of the race.[2]