Short priced favourite Redzel has drawn towards the outside of the field after the barriers were decided for the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Redzel, above, has drawn an outside barrier in the 2018 Back Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Redzel, above, has drawn an outside barrier in the 2018 Back Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

A field of ten will contest the 1000m dash down the famous Flemington straight with Redzel from barrier nine likely to match strides in the early stages with the speedy Super Too who will jump from gate five with Stephen Baster in the saddle.

The Joe Pride trained Ball Of Muscle, with Craig Williams to ride, is also a rocket out of the barriers and will make sure that there is plenty of pressure on up front from barrier two.

Pride will also saddle up eight year old backmarker Terravista who will be looking for back to back wins in the Black Caviar Lightning after beating Spieth by a nose last year.

Mark Zahra takes the ride on the veteran sprinter who will jump from barrier four.

The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Redzel with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle again, is chasing his seventh win on the trot and will go into the Black Caviar Lightning as the one to beat after being crowned the nation’s number one sprinter following his feats during the 2017 Spring Carnival that include wins in the $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick and in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington.

The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig has accepted with two runners in the Black Caviar Lightning, Newmarket Handicap winner Redkirk Warrior and classy three year old filly Formality.

Redkirk Warrior has drawn barrier seven with Regan Bayliss to ride and the seven year old chestnut will wear the blinkers for the first time after impressing co-trainer David Hayes in a recent trial down the Flemington straight.

“He trialled brilliantly up the straight and he has got the addition of blinkers for the first time, with the older horses it can really give them a lift and his training suggests with them on he could go to another level,” Hayes told racing.com.

“He has got Redzel to beat, who is obviously a superstar, but if there is a horse in the field capable of an upset I think it is Redkirk Warrior.

“I think Redkirk Warrior at his best can test anything so hopefully I think he will do what I think he can do.”

Redkirk Warrior has won twice down the Flemington straight over 1200m when he was a first up winner in the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap during the 2017 Melbourne Autumn Carnival and was then a first up winner in the Spring in the Group 2 $200,000 Bobbie Lewis Quality.

Dwayne Dunn has taken the ride on Formality who will jump from gate eight and will also being the blinkers for the first time.

Final Field for the 2018 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m)

# Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 2211x1111x REDZEL Peter & Paul Snowden Kerrin McEvoy 9 58.5kg 116
2 20x100x02x TERRAVISTA Joseph Pride Mark Zahra 4 58.5kg 113
3 1196x1401x HEY DOC Tony McEvoy Luke Currie 3 58.5kg 113
4 1x105x100x REDKIRK WARRIOR (GB) David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Regan Bayliss 7 58.5kg 111
5 011x43765x ROCK MAGIC Chris Gangemi Michael Dee 1 58.5kg 106
6 3394x2531x BALL OF MUSCLE Joseph Pride Craig Williams 2 58.5kg 105
7 13x930x15x SUPIDO Michael Kent Beau Mertens 10 58.5kg 103
8 2x1449729x MISSROCK Robbie Laing Damien Oliver 6 56.5kg 104
9 1423x5112x SUPER TOO Marc Conners Stephen Baster 5 56.5kg 95
10 302x11013x FORMALITY David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Dwayne Dunn 8 53.5kg 102

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.