It’s not just Australians who will be keeping a close eye on the first group 1 sprint of 2025 when the speedsters hurtle down the Flemington 1000 metres in Saturday’s Lightning Stakes.
Racing executives from Royal Ascot and punters from Britain and Ireland will undoubtedly be monitoring the outcome of the short course dash named in honour of the great Black Caviar, herself a heroine at the Royal meeting over a decade ago.
Such is the ability of Australian sprinters that they have not just become regular visitors to the prestigious midsummer festival but regular victors too, a sequence begun in 2003 when the Paul Perry trained Choisir took out the two leading sprint races at the meeting, the Kings Stand Stakes on the Tuesday and the Jubilee Stakes on the Saturday
And several in Saturday’s Lightning field could be on the radar of the Ascot talent scouts as they seek to build on the prestige of their races in an increasingly crowded and competitive international racing environment.
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher, respectively trainers of the two market leaders Switzerland and Growing Empire, are no strangers to overseas travel and success for either of these colts could make them targets for a Royal Ascot adventure – particularly as a victory at group 1 level in Europe would make them even more attractive as stallion prospects for their respective owneres, Coolmore and Yulong.
Waller took Brazen Beau to run in the UK in 2015 when he was narrowly beaten in the Diamond Jubilee, while Maher was a more recent visitor when he sent Coolangatta over only to see her finish down the field in 2023.
Not that Switzerland, who will be ridden by James McDonald and the Mark Zahra partnered Growing Empire can expect to have things all their own way in one of the most keenly contested sprints of the year.
The duo are both first up and while they will of course be expected to sprint well while fresh it is unlikely that this contest is the Grand Final for either, with lucrative races at the Sydney autumn carnival just over the horizon.
Last Saturday Jamie Melham landed her first group 1 under her new name since her marriage to fellow jockey Ben Melham when she partnered Another Wil to victory in the CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield. On Saturday she will be hoping to make it two on the spin when she climbs aboard the Godolphin candidate Traffic Warden.
He has plenty of ground to make up on Switzerland on their running in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival, when he finished tenth behind the Waller runner, who was a strong winner.
The 1000 metre trip is likely to be on the short side for the son of Street Boss, who has been seen to good effect over 1400 metres, but if the pace is on he might be the one finishing best of all.
One who might belie his long odds is the ultra consistent Mazu, now with the Joe Pride stable having spent most of his career with the Snowdens.
The six year old gelding is also making his reappearance after a campaign which saw him run some good races in defeat in strong company in Sydney last spring.
Ben Melham takes the ride on him so punters will have to get used to seeing two riders with the same surname taking on each other in elite races all through this autumn and in subsequent years.
While sprint races are invariably truly run and form at the highest level works out well, there are several imponderables at this stage of the season: how fit is each runner, where does the Lightning stand in their list of targets, what is the bigger picture each contender’s owner and trainer is painting and who will get the crucial luck in running another galloper may not.
The Gavin Bedggood trained Mornington Glory proved that early last spring when, rock hard fit after racing through the winter, he beat a field of more fancied rivals in the group 1 Moir Stakes over the 1000 metre dash at The Valley.
Flemington’s long straight is a very different kettle of fish and he might be lining up more in hope than expectation this time but he and the likes of Benedetta, Stretan Angel and Skybird will all be having a throw at the stumps: as the latter three, along with speedy mare I Am Me (a stable companion of Growing Empire) are females even a group 1 placing in such a prestigious race will enhance their already high value even more.
And there could be an even better twist for Benedetta’s rider, Dan Stackhouse if he could salute on the $13 chance as it would be his first ever group 1 winner – a glaring omission on the record of a hard working and talented rider who has regularly proved that if his mount is good enough, he is.