A thousand metres down the famed Flemington straight has brought together a crack field of 13 talented sprinters for Saturday's G1 Black Caviar Lightning S.
Arguably the most exciting runner in the field is last spring's G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Flying Artie (Aus) (Artie Schiller), who will sport the China Horse Club silks for the first time. Never out of the top three in all six starts to date, the 3-year-old colt has had two starts down the Flemington straight, having recorded a second on debut as well as his Group 1 victory last time out.
No 3-year-old has won the race since 2005, when the now champion sire Fastnet Rock (Aus) (Danehill) took the prize, but trainer Mick Price feels his charge is ready to end the 3-year-old drought with Damien Oliver in the saddle.
“I think he's come of age a bit,” Price said. “I think he's improved and he looks fantastic. He's a really big, strong, autumn 3-year-old now.”
The other 3-year-old colt in the field, the Hawkes racing-trained Star Turn (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}), may not have that elusive Group 1 victory next to his name, but his form suggests he is also capable of winning the race. He was a winner by over two lengths in the G2 Schillaci S. defeating Group 1 winner Malaguerra (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}) two starts back before finishing third to Flying Artie in the Coolmore.
With eight starts at the distance, for three wins and five placed performances, the Group 2-winning, Group 1-placed Heatherly (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) has been off the scene since a bleeding attack when second to Extreme Choice (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) in the G1 Moir S. in September last year. A winner of five from 12, including at the trip, the Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained mare looked strong in a recent jump out, recording an impressive time with her victory over Flying Artie.
Bryce Heys, who was brought to tears when his runner Spieth (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) was narrowly defeated in the G1 Darley Classic at the end of the spring carnival, has the highly talented 4-year-old set for another attempt at the highest level. With Hugh Bowman set to partner Spieth, having ridden Flying Artie in the Coolmore, the leading jockey will jump away from barrier five in the field, with Flying Artie in four.
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