Chautauqua is currently available at 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes odds of $2.40 and is the new favourite in betting markets for the Group 1 event that will be held at Flemington this afternoon.
Chautauqua and Delectation will do battle again in the 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Chautauqua opened at a quote of $2.70 when the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes field was released on Wednesday, but there has been consistent support for the popular sprinter and he is now favourite to record his third win at the highest level of racing.
The Encosta De Lago gelding has never finished worse than second in his six race starts down the famous Flemington straight, but he was denied victory in the 2014 Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m), 2015 Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and 2015 Darley Classic.
Exosphere opened as favourite in Black Caviar Lightning Stakes betting markets, but he has now drifted slightly and is out to $2.60 to stamp himself as one of the most talented sprinters in Australia.
The John O’Shea-trained galloper produced outstanding performances to take out the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m), Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) and Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m), but he failed to fire in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and there are question marks over whether he can handle the Flemington straight.
Terravista has flown under the radar ahead of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, but he is currently on the third line of betting at a quote of $8.
The son of Captain Rio has only been beaten once first-up – when he finished third behind Brazen Beau and Chautauqua in the Newmarket Handicap – and he was only narrowly denied by Delectation and Chautauqua.
Delectation has a last start win over Chautauqua and Terravista on his racing resume, but he has drifted from $7.50 out to $8.50 to claim his second straight victory at the highest level of racing.
Another horse that has a last start Group 1 victory to his name is Japonisme, who has drifted from $8.50 out to $10 since the final field was released on Wednesday.
Japonisme was no match for Exosphere in the Run To The Rose or the Roman Consul Stakes, but he upstaged the Godolphin galloper to take out the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Victoria Derby Day.
The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes field is rounded out by extreme outsider Va Pensiero, who has been $61 out to $81 to record one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Group 1 event.
