The first Group 1 of the year is upon us this weekend at Flemington, with a small but elite field of sprinters set to do battle in the 2026 Black Caviar Lightning. Down the famous “Straight Six” at HQ, it is the gun young colt Tentyris who has emerged as the clear punters’ pick to take home the prize.
Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Tentyris resumes at Flemington in the 2026 Black Caviar Lightning on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Flemington comes to life this Saturday as it hosts the opening top-grade race of the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival. An intriguing edition of the $1 million Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) has seen just eight horses engaged, but what the field lacks in quantity, it certainly makes up for in quality.
This sharp, short-distance feature has been won by some of the greatest names in the history of Australian racing—including the event’s now namesake and three-time champion Black Caviar (2011-13)—and Saturday afternoon will determine which of these speedsters will be the next champion crowned.
In the latest Black Caviar Lightning betting at Ladbrokes, the market is firmly led by the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Tentyris at $2.40. The Street Boss colt is on a mission to become the first three-year-old winner of the race since Home Affairs (2022) and the filly Coolangatta (2023) went back-to-back.
With four victories from just seven career starts, the young star returns for the first time since his groundbreaking Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes victory at this track during last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival. Tentyris is already a two-time winner from three attempts at HQ and will carry 55.5kg at weight-for-age from barrier seven. He will be reunited with jockey Damian Lane, who steered him to a second-place finish in the Blue Diamond Stakes last autumn. Following a series of impressive trials, the colt looks well-proven for his Flemington return, explaining the significant market support.
The primary danger occupying the second line of betting is the also-resuming Giga Kick ($4.50) for trainer Clayton Douglas. Now a six-year-old, the son of Scissor Kick remains best known for his 2022 victory in the world’s richest turf race, but the former The Everest hero showed he still has a “zest for racing” last prep, culminating in a dominant Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) win against a world-class field. With Mark Zahra sidelined by injury, Ethan Brown picks up the ride on the $14.8 million earner. Brown recently got a feel for the gelding in a January trial at Caulfield’s “The Heath,” where Giga Kick finished a close second to My Gladiola.
Two other contenders are currently listed at single-figure odds: Baraqiel ($6.50) and Beiwacht ($8.50). The seven-year-old Snitzel gelding Baraqiel is famously undefeated first-up and shapes as a major threat from barrier five with Ben Allen aboard. While he is yet to record a win at Flemington, he is a bona fide 1000m specialist with two wins at the distance, including his Group 1 Moir Stakes triumph in the spring. Coming off a gallant runner-up finish to Charm Stone in the Manikato Stakes last October, he is expected to be a popular choice with each-way punters.
Meanwhile, Beiwacht lines up for the Chris Waller stable, as the master trainer chases his third victory in the event following his success with Nature Strip and Home Affairs. Ben Melham will pilot the well-bred Bivouac colt from a favorable draw in gate three. The returning Group 1 Golden Rose champion is looking to “turn the tables on his last start conqueror” after finishing fourth in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, where he held his own during his first interstate trip to Melbourne.
For those searching for value, the best of the rest include Michael Freedman’s Golden Slipper-winning filly Marhoona ($10) and the talented I Am Invincible filly My Gladiola ($12), the latter of whom consistently thrives at the course.
The 2026 Black Caviar Lightning is scheduled as Race 8 at 4:10 pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s 10-race Flemington card.
2026 Black Caviar Lightning Field & Barriers
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Weight | Age | Sex | Last Starts | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giga Kick | Ethan Brown | Clayton Douglas | 6 | 58.5kg | 6 | G | 6x11x | $14,738,095 |
| 2 | Baraqiel | Ben Allen | L & T Corstens & W Larkin | 5 | 58.5kg | 7 | G | x112x | $1,488,025 |
| 3 | Benedetta | Jamie Melham | Ciaron Maher | 1 | 56.5kg | 6 | M | x758x | $2,204,415 |
| 4 | Tentyris | Damian Lane | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 7 | 55.5kg | 3 | C | x311x | $1,959,245 |
| 5 | Beiwacht | Ben Melham | Chris Waller | 3 | 55.5kg | 3 | C | 3214x | $1,020,275 |
| 6 | Marhoona | Michael Dee | Michael Freedman | 4 | 53.5kg | 3 | F | 1x13x | $3,215,150 |
| 7 | My Gladiola | Jamie Mott | John Mcardle | 8 | 53.5kg | 3 | F | 1223x | $900,745 |
| 8 | Military Tycoon | Harry Coffey | Ciaron Maher | 2 | 53.5kg | 3 | F | 196×2 | $204,125 |
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