Australia: Black Caviar goes for No. 19 on short rest in Lightning Stakes at Flemington

Making the quickest turnaround of her career, Black Caviar can stretch her unbeaten streak to 19 races in Saturday’s $802,500 Lightning Stakes at Flemington Racecourse in Australia, just a week after winning the C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday.

Black Caviar, 6, was listed as a 1-10 favorite on Thursday for the Group 1 Lightning Stakes, which is run over a straightaway five furlongs on turf. The Lightning Stakes will be Black Caviar’s first start over that distance since her 14th career win in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield in October.

Black Caviar has had at least two weeks between wins several times, but never returned to racing after one week.

Trained by Peter Moody, Black Caviar was untested in the Orr Stakes, her first win at seven furlongs. She closed from just off the pace in a field of nine to win comfortably by 3 1/4 lengths under regular rider Luke Nolen.

An Australian-bred mare by Bel Espirit, Black Caviar is part of a field of nine in the Lightning, which includes the 7-year-old gelding Hay List. Trained by John McNair, Hay List has finished second to Black Caviar three times, including in his most recent start, the Group 1 BTC Cup last May.

Buffering, third in the BTC Cup and second to Black Caviar in the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic in November, is also part of the Lightning Stakes field.