A field comprising eight runners is expected in the opening Group 1 event of the Melbourne Autumn Carnival, the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington.
Unusually for an open-age and open-sex contest, three-year-old fillies represent the largest contingent.
Three-year-old fillies account for three of the eight acceptors in the 1000m sprint as they aim to secure their third success in the last 25 years.
Regimental Gal triumphed for the fillies in 2004 with Coolangatta the latest in 2023.
Add six-year-old mare Benedetta and the females will seek to elevate their recent tally to four in the Black Caviar Lightning following Coolangatta, Imperatriz and Skybird over the last three years.
Local fillies My Gladiola and Military Tycoon will team up with Michael Freedman-trained Marhoona, who has been stabled at Flemington for a little more than a week ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 sprint.
Marhoona demonstrated her quality as a two-year-old when runner-up to Tempted in the Reisling Slipper at Randwick prior to claiming the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill.
During her spring preparation, the filly raced only twice, prevailing first-up in the Heritage Stakes at Rosehill before finishing third in the Roman Consul Stakes, also at Rosehill.
Freedman noted that it is challenging for Golden Slipper winners to return effectively as three-year-olds, yet the filly has received solid preparation for her autumn comeback, highlighted by a trial victory over Autumn Glow at Randwick on January 27.
“I think she has come back great,” Freedman said.
“Slipper-winning fillies aren’t easy to place, especially the ones that are more sprinting types.
She is already a Group 1 winner so we want to try to line her up in races that can only potentially enhance her page, so we had a chat about it and thought we’d have a crack at the Lightning.”
Freedman remains unfazed by Marhoona’s lack of prior experience down the straight, citing stablemate Pallaton’s win on the straight course during Melbourne Cup Day.
Jockey Michael Dee will partner Marhoona for the initial occasion.
“We had Craig Williams booked, but he is suspended on Saturday, so we had to make a bit of a late change,” Freedman said.
Backers looking for value in the Black Caviar Lightning can explore the top Australian betting sites for competitive odds.
The post Golden Slipper winner in Black Caviar Lightning bid first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
