Black Caviar Lightning Race Day Review

Tentyris electric in Black Caviar Lightning

Last year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes hinted it and the Black Caviar Lightning confirmed it with Tentyris stamping himself Australia’s newest sprint star at Flemington on Saturday.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt made it back-to-back Group 1 wins with an explosive display against proven weight-for-age performers in the 1000-metre event worth $1 million.

The victory came at his first start since proving a class above his own age group in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Derby Day and Sam Freedman said his father, who was once part of the all-conquering ‘FBI’ – Freedman Brothers Incorporated – left him in no doubt about the type of horse they were dealing with.

“He has been in the game for so long and he said to me at the end of the spring campaign, this might be the best horse you ever train,” Sam said.

“(I said) I thought you might be suggesting you trained one better back in the 1990s and 2000s – there was a bit of cheek there, they had Mahogany and Schillaci – but he’s building his own record that will hopefully be right up there with some of the best.”

Tentyris ($2.60 fav), a son of Street Boss, swept home from last in the small field of eight to defeat John McArdle-trained filly My Gladiola to second placing with Benedetta ($26) the same distance away third.

Damian Lane, who rode Tentyris into second position in last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes, reclaimed the ride on Saturday, replacing the injured Mark Zahra, and he said he described him as an ‘incredible talent’.

“Mid-race I had to ask him to pick up the bridle and when he did, he really joined in well and as had become his trademark, that last bit of his race was outstanding,” Lane said.

Sixties completes Lane quartet

Sydney colt Sixties used Saturday’s $200,000 C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington to flash his Australian Guineas bona fides, completing a day out for star rider Damian Lane in the process.

The Chris Waller-trained Sixties proved a class above his rivals in the 1400-metre Group 3, sitting three-wide without cover throughout, to make it back-to-back wins following first-up success in restricted grade at Rosehill on January 31.

The win came 40 minutes after Lane’s brilliant victory aboard Tentyris in the Black Caviar Lightning, while he also won Listed events earlier in the day with Hard Kick and Sass Appeal.

“It’s a good time to be coming right,” he said.

“There’s a lot of hard work behind the scenes. I have to thank my family, (wife) Bonnie and (son) Charlie, they’re a big support at home.

“My manager Dean Hawkes, he does a good job of organising rides and the rest of it comes down to grafting really, working hard to find the opportunities to be in the right spot at the right time.”

Despite the wide run, Sixties ($1.60 fav) had 1-1/4 lengths to spare over Asakura ($5.50) at the line with $31 chance Beyond Question 1-1/2 further back third.

Sixties, a son of Flying Artie who is a brother to Artorius, is now $3.50 second favourite behind Observer ($2.50) in betting on the Australian Guineas, to be run at Flemington on February 28.

Hayes family’s Hard week ends on a high

The day after the death of one of the great two-year-olds in Lindsay Park’s storied history, the Hayes family unearthed a juvenile who might also be destined for the top level.

All Too Hard gelding Hard Kick started his career in the best possible way, dominating his rivals in the $175,000 Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) that kicked off Saturday’s Black Caviar Lightning program at Flemington.

The victory came just over 48 hours after former champion filly Miss Finland died at the age of 22, and while J D Hayes conceded Hard Kick has a way to go match the deeds of the 2006 Golden Slipper winner, he was thrilled to see him justify the stable’s strong opinion of him.

“What a thrill, he’s been very well-educated at home and we thought he was pretty good and he won with authority there,” Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers Ben and Will, said.

“We’re not sure he’s as good as Miss Finland, but he looked pretty good there.”

The Golden Slipper win was one of five Group 1 victories for Miss Finland, who won an Australian Guineas, Thousand Guineas, VRC Oaks and Storm Queen Stakes when trained by David Hayes.

Hard Kick ($3), a $30,000 Adelaide Magic Millions yearling who was subsequent sold for $140,000 at last year’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale, showed good speed to lead and kicked strongly when asked to score by 2-3/4 lengths from Zambales ($2.30 fav) in a time of 1:03.90.

Gaudray joins Lindsay Park party

Celine Gaudray celebrated Stakes success at Flemington on Saturday, when she combined with rejuvenated gelding Café Millenium to take out the $175,000 Listed The Elms.

The once-maligned five-year-old continued his love affair with the Flemington 1400m when he held out Sabaj to win the 1400m event and make it three wins for the day for the day for Ben, Will and JD Hayes.

It was the son of Not A Single Doubt’s third success from five starts over the course and trip, including the Listed Tontonan Stakes last spring, when Gaudray was also aboard, and she said he has quickly become her favourite horse.

“I love riding this horse,” she said.

“He’s the ultimate best horse to ride. You get on him and he does everything you ask him to do.

“Today the race just shaped out perfectly for us.”

The victory was the fifth of Café Millenium’s career with the $105,000 winner’s purse swelling his earnings beyond $650,000.

Along with Lane’s win in the first race aboard Hard Kick, Lindsay Park also took out The Schweppes Plate (1200m) with Ndola, who showed a new appreciation for the straight track with Luke Currie aboard.

Spain in favour with Moody and Coleman

Zac Spain has already proven himself a valuable part of the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman team and he ensured greater opportunities ahead with a Group 3 win to round out Black Caviar Lightning Day.

Spain secured a valuable win aboard five-year-old Deep Field mare Paradise City in the Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m).

Took over from stable apprentice Emily Pozman, who partnered Paradise City to victory last start at Pakenham, and with stable go-to rider Luke Nolen to soon commence a three-week suspension he will get more Black Type chances.

“He’s a no fuss, tradesman, part and parcel of the team,” Moody said post-race.

“He works in well besides ‘Trumby’ (Nolen) and he’s going to get a lot more opportunities in the next month while Trumby is probably up on his fishing boat up on the Murray.

“He’ll get back on Sheza Alibi courtesy of that ride too.”

Sheza Alibi, a dominant winner of the Group 2 Sandown Guineas in November at her most recent appearance, will resume in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Blue Diamond Day.

Berkeley Square bound for Adelaide Cup

Berkeley Square earned himself a shot at 3200 metres when he out-toughed his rivals in the staying race of Saturday’s Black Caviar Lightning program, the $150,000 Be Captivated Trophy.

The Dan O’Sullivan-trained gelding scored his first win at 2500m when he lumped 61.5kg and Luke Nolen to defeat 54kg limit weights Garachico and Steel Run.

The son of Territories was bred, and remains owned by SA-based David Peacock, and O’Sullivan was looking forward to giving him the chance to see him in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup in his home state.

“David Peacock, who bred the horse, is very keen to try and get an Adelaide Cup on his mantlepiece,” O’Sullivan said.

“He’s the right horse to go to it. It was pleasing to see him run out that trip, with that weight.”

The win was Berkeley Square’s 10^th career success and his first since making it back-to-back wins in last year’s Ballarat Cup.