The 2025 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington delivered a shocking upset, with the 25/1 outsider Skybird producing a wide ranging efficiency to say the coveted Group 1 dash.
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Shock 2025 Black Caviar Lightning winner Skybird received the race first-up at 25/1. Photograph: Final Racing Pictures.
In a race the place the fancied runners struggled to search out their finest, Skybird exploded from the again of the sector, unleashing a robust end to brush previous her rivals and rating a decisive victory. Jockey John Allen expertly navigated the Exosphere mare via the sector, discovering the required area to unleash a devastating burst of velocity within the closing levels.
“As soon as she acquired into the clear, god she quickened up and put them to mattress like they had been standing nonetheless to be sincere,” Allen exclaimed after the race talking to Racing.com.
Skybird ($26) went on to defeat the Phillip Stokes educated Stretan Angel ($21) by a size with Benedetta ($8.50) finishing an all-mares’ Black Caviar Lightning trifecta in third.
The crushed favorite, Chris Waller‘s returning Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland ($2.45F), was the subsequent finest working fourth.
The victory despatched shockwaves via the Flemington crowd, as Skybird defied all expectations to say the Group 1 crown. The win was a testomony to the coaching prowess of Mitch Freedman, who confirmed unimaginable religion in his mare by focusing on the Black Caviar Lightning.
“We simply constructed in the direction of it,” Freedman stated.
“Her work at Horsham 10 days in the past or no matter it was now and her work on Tuesday was phenomenal.
“We had been so thrilled along with her coming into the race.
“I knew we had been up towards the problem, and everybody needed to inform us we weren’t quick sufficient for the 1000 (metres) however we all know that she’s a sprinter.
“We needed to attempt her out over the longer distances as a three-year-old to race in these larger races, and as a four-year-old as effectively, however what an outstanding win.
“She was coiled up behind them there and I used to be simply wanting a niche to return and when it did, she burst via and galloped away from them.”
Skybird’s victory has catapulted her to the forefront of the spring carnival. Along with her earnings now surpassing $1.2 million, the choices are plentiful for the proficient mare.
“Why not (goal the Newmarket subsequent)?” Freedman contemplated.
“It maps effectively. We thought, there’s three sprints in Melbourne she might run in, both this or the Oakleigh Plate into the Newmarket after which into the William Reid.
“We’ll go down that path at this stage after which we’ve acquired Adelaide to again up on. However we’ll be sure she pulls up effectively, effectively executed to the workforce, effectively ridden by Johnny and because of the homeowners for his or her assist.”
Skybird’s spectacular victory has not solely secured her place in racing historical past because the longest-priced winner of the Black Caviar Lightning however has additionally set the stage for an thrilling autumn marketing campaign.
Present pre-field 2025 Newmarket Handicap odds at Ladbrokes on the $1.5 million characteristic at Flemington over 1200m on March 8 have Skybird into $8 and can be found by clicking right here.
2025 Black Caviar Lightning Outcomes
End | No. | Horse | Coach | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Beginning Worth | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 | SKYBIRD | Mitchell Freedman | John Allen | 3 | 56.5kg | $26 | |||
2 | 8 | STRETAN ANGEL | Phillip Stokes | Lachlan Neindorf | 1L | 5 | 56.5kg | $21 | ||
3 | 7 | BENEDETTA | Jason Warren | Daniel Stackhouse | 2.75L | 2 | 56.5kg | $8.50 | ||
4 | 11 | SWITZERLAND | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 2.77L | 7 | 55.5kg | $2.45F | ||
5 | 12 | TRAFFIC WARDEN | James Cummings | Ms Jamie Melham | 3.52L | 4 | 55.5kg | $8 | ||
6 | 1 | MAZU | Joseph Satisfaction | Ben Melham | 4.27L | 10 | 58.5kg | $11 | ||
7 | 10 | GROWING EMPIRE | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | 4.67L | 6 | 55.5kg | $3.80 | ||
8 | 4 | WAY TO THE STARS | Matthew Smith | Luke Currie | 7.67L | 8 | 58.5kg | $41 | ||
9 | 5 | PHILOSOPHER | Enver Jusufovic | Michael Dee | 10.42L | 9 | 58.5kg | $41 | ||
10 | 3 | JOYFUL FORTUNE | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Harry Coffey | 10.67L | 1 | 58.5kg | $41 | ||
Desk Credit score: Racing Australia.
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