The G1 Black Caviar Lightning S. is one of the most coveted prizes for sprinters of the Australian autumn. It has been won by many of the country's most legendary short-course specialists, including future successful stallions like Fastnet Rock (Aus), Choisir (Aus), Testa Rossa (Aus) and General Nediym (Aus). Just three of this year's seven entrants will have the opportunity to go on to a stud career, and one owner who would certainly welcome a victory in that regard is Godolphin, which sends out the 3-year-old Exosphere (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}). The dark bay looked in a different league entirely when winning last season's G2 Run To the Rose, G1 Golden Rose and G2 Roman Consul S. He has something to prove, however, having suffered a shock defeat when fourth at the hands of Japonisme (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) over this same Flemington straight course in the 1200 metre G1 Coolmore Stud S. Oct. 31. Jockey James McDonald blamed that defeat on the track condition, however, telling Racenet.com.au, “He'd probably just had enough but the track was disgraceful that day and it made it hard for any horse to make up ground. He got back in the field and made a wide-ish run where you couldn't do it.”
Despite coming into this first-up Exosphere should be fit off two Warwick Farm trials. He finished second in both Jan. 25 and Feb. 8, respectively.
“He's working really well and his trials have been as good as a horse can trial,” McDonald told Racenet. “He's probably come back in better order but he needs to deliver on raceday. He feels like a beast. He's a big robust horse that until raceday, he doesn't really feel much, but he really perks up on raceday.”
Five of the seven in this lineup are already Group 1 winners, and Exosphere will have to contend with formidable elders like Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) and Terravista (Aus) (Captain Rio {GB}). Chautauqua proved himself the likely cream of the crop last year with a win in the A$2.5 million G1 TJ Smith S. at The Championships in April, and he added the G1 Manikato S. in the autumn at the end of a three-race win streak. Terravista bested Chautauqua in the 2014 G1 Darley Classic and took the G2 Premiere S. in the autumn, but that pair were both upstaged by Delectation (Aus) (Shamardal) in last year's renewal of the Darley Classic in each of their last public appearance. Trainer Peter Moody, who won this race in 2011, 2012 and 2013 with Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}), saddles Kinglike (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). The 3-year-old makes a big class jump to test Group 1 company for the first time, but won last year's G2 Danehill S. over this track and trip over a quality field.
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