Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Barrier Draw & Final Field
- The barrier draw has been conducted for the 2023 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes
- 11 runners make up the final field
- A strong line up has been assembled

Roch 'N' Horse and Nature Strip are set to clash again in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. (Getty)
Champion sprinter Nature Strip heads the 2023 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes acceptances, with the nine-time Group 1 winner set to make his fourth appearance in this sprint feature.
A winner of the Black Caviar Llghtning Stakes in 2021. the eight-year-old will be looking to atone from an unlucky attempt last year, where he missed the start and was a narrow runner-up to Home Affairs.
He'll jump from barrier 1, with James McDonald in the saddle.
Chris Waller also prepares September Run (barrier 6), a two-time Group 1 winner that has won three races up the Flemington straight, although no career wins have come over 1000m.
She recorded an eye-catching second behind Nature Strip in the 2021 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace have a strong hand, with Bella Nipotina (barrier 7), Marabi (barrier 5) and Coolangatta (barrier 9) all in the final field.
Bella Nipotina resumes off a career best campaign, having won her first Group 1 last spring via a dominant display in the Manikato Stakes, while Marabi resumes off a long spell, with her last appearance coming in the 2022 William Reid Stakes, which was her first defeat.
Speedy filly Coolangatta creates plenty of interest, with a Group 1 win over older rivals already under the belt via last year's Moir Stakes.
1000m seems the pet trip for her nowadays and her lead-up work ahead of this return has been sharp.
Peter Moody has dual representation, saddling up Golden Eagle winner I Wish I Win (barrier 4), along with three-year-old colt Millane (barrier 10), who recorded his sole win over this track/trip.
Roch 'N' Horse (barrier 2) has an excellent record up the Flemington straight, with two wins and two seconds from four attempts, and both of those victories were at Group 1 level.
Her last triumph came at WFA level over spring, when upsetting Nature Strip in the VRC Sprint Classic.
Sydney visitor Buenos Noches (barrier 11) was terrific in his first racing preparation, which includes a win up the Flemington straight and a third behind In Secret in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
This three-year-old is well suited by the wide draw, as he'll settle off the speed before attempting to swoop late.
The Tony Gollan-trained Baller (barrier 8) gets the services of Mark Zahra for his return and this Queensland sprinter is no stranger to Flemington, winning the Bobbie Lewis here first-up last spring before back-to-back placings.
Fire (barrier 3) is the only runner not contesting the 2023 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes first-up, having resumed at Sandown on February 4.
The Team Hawkes gelding looks up against with a rating of only 76 at WFA level, while his biggest victory has come in Benchmark 70 grade.
Black Caviar Lightning Stakes 2023 Barriers & Final Field
No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Odds |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nature Strip | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 1 | 58.5kg | $1.95 |
2 | I Wish I Win (NZ) | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 4 | 58.5kg | $12 |
3 | Baller | Tony Gollan | Mark Zahra | 8 | 58.5kg | $16 |
4 | Fire | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Damien Oliver | 3 | 58.5kg | $61 |
5 | Bella Nipotina | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Ben Melham | 7 | 56.5kg | $12 |
6 | Roch 'N' Horse | Michael Moroney | Jamie Mott | 2 | 56.5kg | $12 |
7 | September Run | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 6 | 56.5kg | $26 |
8 | Marabi | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Ben Allen | 5 | 56.5kg | $11 |
9 | Buenos Noches | Matthew Smith | Craig Williams | 11 | 55.5kg | $14 |
10 | Millane | Peter G Moody | Daniel Stackhouse | 10 | 55.5kg | $51 |
11 | Coolangatta | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Jamie Kah | 9 | 55.5kg | $8 |
Odds courtesy of BlueBet & correct at 12.10pm on 15/02/2023.
Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Winners
The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is one of Melbourne's main summer events, with this 1000m feature the first Group 1 sprint of the calendar year.
Worth $1 million, the Lightning is one of two Group One sprints held at Flemington during the Autumn, the other being the Newmarket Handicap.
The race was known as the Lightning Stakes, but after the invincible Black Caviar was able to claim three in a row from 2011-13, the race was named in her honour.
Gytrash (2020), Nature Strip (2021) and Home Affairs (2022) have won the last three editions of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.
Black Caviar Lightning Stakes FAQs
When is the 2023 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes?
The 2023 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, February 18
What distance is the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes?
The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is run over a distance of 1000 metres.
Who won the 2022 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes?
Home Affairs won the 2023 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.
How can I live stream the 2023 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes?
Visit our live streaming hub for all the information on how to live stream the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and all other Australian horse races.
What is the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes worth?
The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is worth a total of $1 millions.
$600,000 goes to the winner.
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