Kinglike has been scratched from the 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes after mucus was detected in his windpipe this afternoon.
Kinglike will not take his place in the 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes field. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Kinglike was expected to be one of the horses that took up the speed in the early stages of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, but he was unwanted by punters and he drifted from $21 out to $31 before trainer Peter Moody informed Racing Victoria that the Exceed And Excel colt would not take his place in the Group 1 event.
The talented three-year-old made his racing debut with a second place finish behind stablemate Bassett in the Taralye Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield on May 16 and he claimed his maiden race win with an impressive performance in the Charter Keck Cramer Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on May 30.
Kinglike started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with an upset win over Raphael’s Cat and Ready For Victory in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 12, but he was scratched from the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 14 before he failed to fire in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) on October 17.
The scratching of Kinglike means that there will be just six horses in the 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes field – the same number of horses that contested the race when Lankan Rupee upstaged Brazen Beau and Deep Field.
Chautauqua opened on the second line of 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes betting markets when the final field was released earlier in the week, but he has now leapfrogged Exosphere and is favourite at a quote of $2.40.
Exosphere has drifted slightly and is out to a quote of $2.60 to record his first race win down the famous Flemington straight in what he is his event at weight-for-age level.
Terravista has been backed from $8 into $7.50 and he is now on the second line of betting from Delectation ($8.50), Japonisme ($10) and Va Pensiero ($81).
Only ten favourites have won the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and they include River Rough (1985), Zeditave (1989), Schillaci (1993), General Nediym (1998), Isca (1999), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007) and Black Caviar (2011, 2012 and 2013).
