Eleven sprinters are set to tackle the Flemington straight follow the release of the final field for the 2019 Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) on Saturday.

Sunlight, above, remains the favoruite for the 2019 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Sunlight, above, remains the favoruite for the 2019 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Tony McEvoy trained Sunlight remains at the top of the betting at Ladbrokes.com.au at $3.90 for the Black Caviar Lightning and will jump from barrier nine with Luke Currie in the saddle.

The interesting runner in the Lloyd Kennewell trained two year old filly Jedastar (barrier 2) who will only have to carry 44kg under the weight for age conditions of the Black Caviar Lightning.

Apprentice Chris Caserta is determined to get his weight down to the featherweight of 44kg and will continue to stick to a strict diet in the lead up to Saturday’s feature sprint.

“I’ve still got a couple more to lose come Saturday but it looks like I’m going to be doing it quite comfortably,” Caserta told racing.com.

“There’s not much of me but it’s coming off me pretty good.

“It’s been a good experience, I’ve finally got to live how most jockeys live, not just eating and drinking what I want because I’m a lightweight.

“I can’t wait come Saturday night when me and the family go out for dinner after the race and then on Sunday when we have a big Italian festival at home.”

The lightly raced Jedastar is facing a tough task taking on seasoned Group 1 winners after only having been to the races on two occasions for a debut win on January 1 over the same course and distance as the Black Caviar Lightning plus a second to Catch Me in the Group 3 $160,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) (1000m) at Caulfield on January 26.

Sunlight is kicking off her 2019 Autumn Carnival campaign in the Black Caviar Lightning and the Tony McEvoy trained filly is having her first start since winning the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight on the first day of the 2018 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The James Cummings trained Osborne Bulls will carry the number one saddlecloth and has drawn barrier five with Craig Williams booked to ride.

Osborne Bulls is also a last start winner down the Flemington straight and will be having his first race start since winning the Group 2 The TAB Stakes (1200m) on the same day of the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Group 1 winner In Her Time has drawn the inside gate for Corey Brown while Written By has drawn the outside barrier with regular rider Jordan Childs in the saddle.

Final field for the 2019 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m)

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 3121x1531x OSBORNE BULLS James Cummings Craig Williams 5 58.5kg 111
2 6x1211125x BATTLE HERO Chris Gangemi Jarrad Noske 7 58.5kg 106
3 2x020164x2 GLENALL Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Dwayne Dunn 6 58.5kg 96
4 2x139x372x IN HER TIME Kris Lees Corey Brown 1 56.5kg 113
5 820×370945 MISSROCK Robbie Laing Ben Melham 4 56.5kg 99
6 x222274x1x DIVINE QUALITY Robbie Griffiths Beau Mertens 8 56.5kg 98
7 1114x114x2 WRITTEN BY Grahame Begg Jordan Childs 11 55.5kg 104
8 11x1235x GRAFF Kris Lees Tommy Berry 3 55.5kg 98
9 13310x153x LEAN MEAN MACHINE Chris Waller James McDonald 10 55.5kg 99
10 113x21171x SUNLIGHT Tony McEvoy Luke Currie 9 53.5kg 108
11 12 JEDASTAR Lloyd Kennewell Chris Caserta (a) 2 44kg 72

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.