The Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival action continues today at Flemington Racecourse and all afternoon we will be covering the 2017 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Day Results live as the races are run and won.
Upset 2017 Black Caviar Lightning winner Terravista is likely to back up in the Newmarket Handicap. Photo:Ultimate Racing Photos.
Three Group status events pave the way at the track including the meeting’s marquee event – the weight-for-age $750,000 Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) running as Flemington Race 8 at 4:45pm (AEDT).
Along with the season’s best sprinters on show in the Black Caviar Lightning field, race fans and punters can also get a nice early guide for the upcoming $750,000 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) with the running of The Vanity (Race 5) and the CS Hayes Stakes (Race 6).
Stay tuned across the Melbourne race card today here at HorseRacing.com.au for all the latest Flemington race results.
Race 9 (5:25pm) – $80,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy (1700m)
- 1st: #5 Hard Call
- 2nd: #8 Divine Mr Artie
- 3rd: #12 Gervais
The last on Black Caviar Lightning Day saw the ultra-consistent Hard Call enjoy a win in his first look down the Flemington straight saluting at double-figures for a third victory in his past four starts. Gervais was up on the pace leading throughout in a very brave run, but just couldn’t hold off the late runners in the final 100m. Hard Call was settled fourth in running in a lovely spot, eventually following Gervais through on the straight and pushing forward in the late surge to beat Divine Mr Arite as the pacesetter held for third.
Race 8 (4:45pm) – $750,000 Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Results
- 1st: #1 Terravista
- 2nd: #7 Spieth
- 3rd: #12 Star Turn
Terravista scored a late and narrow win in the Black Caviar Lighting enjoying his first Group 1 success since the 2014 Darley Classic. Ridden by Corey Brown for just the second time, the veteran seven-year-old arrived late on the scene in a perfectly timed performance to lunge and hold off a luckless Spieth. Spieth also lost the Darley Classic when runner-up to Malaguerra in the spring and had to settle for second again. In third was the returning Team Hawkes-trained three-year-old Star Turn.
Race 7 (4:00pm) – $80,000 Ascot Racecourse Trophy Results
Post D’France broke a lengthy winning drought at Flemington on Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Day. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
- 1st: #9 Post D’France
- 2nd: #7 Hursley
- 3rd: #5 Annus Mirabilis
A patient ride from Melbourne Cup winning jockey Corey Brown saw the Stephen Brown-trained Post D’France post his first win in 713 days. From back off the pace, Post D’France didn’t arrive on the scene until the final few hundred metres and took some winding up running them down. In a late launch in the dying moments from out wider on the track, the galloper had the big finale in him and got home to break the drought with a deserving win over the favourite Hursley who looked the winner. Annus Mirabilis also looked to be ticking over nicely finishing third.
Race 6 (3:25pm) – $150,000 Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes Results
Hey Doc ran the perfect Australian Guineas trial winning the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington over 1400m. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
- 1st: #3 Hey Doc
- 2nd: #12 Malaise
- 3rd: #11 Land Of Plenty
A terrific performance from the Tony McEvoy-trained Hey Doc second-up has the galloper on track for another shot at a mile heading back to Flemington in a fortnight for the Australian Guineas. Luke Currie rode the horse perfectly after a brilliant jump, getting him into a nice spot with cover getting a run just off the pace before bursting to the lead on the straight to power home for the tidy win over Malaise.
Race 5 (2:50pm) – $150,000 Group 3 The Vanity Results
The Vanity winner Kenedna targets the 2017 Schweppes Oaks in Adelaide this May. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
- 1st: #6 Kenedna
- 2nd: #4 Extra Olives
- 3rd: #3 Harlow Gold
The blinkers on worked a treat for the Darren Weir-trained Kenedna who enjoyed an upset win, measuring up in Group 3 company to defeat Extra Olives in The Vanity at Flemington. In third was the returning Crown Oaks runner-up Harlow Gold put in a pleasing first-up run finishing off The Vanity trifecta. Weir named the Australasian Oaks in Adelaide this May as the likely target for Kenedna who shows great potential to stay.
Race 4 (2:15pm) – $120,000 Listed Talindert Stakes Results
The money was on Talindert Stakes 2017 winner Ducimus for Team Hawkes. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
- 1st: #3 Ducimus
- 2nd: #1 Taking Aim
- 3rd: #10 Sanadaat
Team Hawkes’ heavily-backed favourite Ducimus continued to live up to his hefty price tag making it two wins from as many starts with the black-type Talindert Stakes success. In his first run down the Flemington straight the son of Snitzel did plenty wrong, but jockey Noel Callow was able to get him to run through the line well holding off a fast-finishing Taking Aim who closed powerfully for second. Also good in just her second run, Sanadaat finished off the trifecta in third. Autumn options are open for Ducimus who could develop into a nice 2017 Caulfield Guineas hope during the spring.
Race 3 (1:40pm) – $100,000 Singapore Turf Club Trophy Results
- 1st: #5 Well Sprung
Well Sprung enjoyed an upset in the Singapore Turf Club Trophy on Black Caviar Lightning Day. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
- 2nd: #9 Boomwaa
- 3rd: #7 Kirani
Star Witness four-year-old Well Sprung relaxed nicely for apprentice Ben Allen getting the prize in the third at Flemington on Saturday. Having his fourth run at the track, the horse posted his maiden win at Flemington having his second run as a gelding and showing off a nice turn of foot. First-up he ran sixth in the Kensington Stakes and second-up relished the extra distance, getting up on the inside to defeat the front-runner throughout Boomwaa by a neck at generous odds. Kirani finished off the trifecta in third.
Race 2 (1:50pm) – $100,000 Japan Racing Association Trophy Results
Zebrinz was well-supported on track to win the Japan Racing Association Trophy at Flemington on Lightning Stakes Day. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
- 1st: #6 Zebrinz
- 2nd: #8 Sadaqa
- 3rd: #3 Duke Of Brunswick
A well-timed ride by jockey Damian Lane saw the market mover Zebrinz salute for Leon & Troy Corstens third-up. There was huge market support for the horse who showed real sectional speed back at Flemington in a small field, running over the top of his rivals late on way to a start over more distance. Sadaqa travelled like the winner after tuning in on the straight, but was overwhelmed late. The consistent favourite Duke Of Brunswick held for third after sliding forward from the jump to settle into second on the outside of pacesetter Great Esteem.
Race 1 (12:30pm) – $80,000 The Asian Executive Stakes Results
Ample On Offa won the first on Black Caviar Lightning Day 2017 at Flemington Racecourse. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
- 1st: #3 Ample On Offa
- 2nd: #5 Diamond Baroness
- 3rd: #2 Pure Pride
Visiting South Australian-trained mare Ample On Offa put in a strong performance to win the first at Flemington on Black Caviar Lightning Day, digging deep and stretching out her neck on the line to get the better of race favourite Diamond Baroness. The Ciaron Maher-trained Diamond Baroness coming off a last start win at the track and distance travelled sweetly up on the speed throughout, but was tackled late having led over the final 200m. Pure Pride got up for third after a late run down the outside.
*All times quoted local (AEDT) and subject to change
