Australia: Tentryis meets older horses in Black Caviar Lightning Stakes

The rapidly-improving Tentryis, a Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old, meets older horses for the first time in Saturday’s Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia.

Tentryis was the 7-5 favorite in early betting on Wednesday, and will start against seven others that include the seven-time stakes winner Giga Kick, the Group 1 winner Baraqiel and another leading 3-year-old in Beiwacht.

All of those runners will start for the first time this year in the $713,100 Lightning Stakes, run on a straightaway five-furlong course.

Tentryis, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman for Godolphin Racing, ended his 2025 season with a win by 2 1/4 lengths in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs at Flemington in November. A winner of 4 of 7 starts, Tentryis displayed his typical closing style.

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If there is a flaw in his form, it may be related to distance. Tentryis was fifth of eight in his only start at five furlongs, the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne in his debut in February 2025. He rebounded to win the minor Talindert Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Flemington in his second start two weeks later.

Giga Kick, the winner of the $9.3 million Everest Stakes in 2022, won his final start of 2025, a neck victory in the Group 1 VRC Champions Sprint, a $1.94 million race at six furlongs at Flemington on Nov. 8.

Tentryis was scratched when the field arrived at the gate for the VRC Champions Sprint, on veterinary advice.

The sharp distance of the Lightning Stakes will suit Baraqiel, a 7-year-old gelding who has won his only two starts at five furlongs, including the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne in September.

Beiwacht, also owned by Godolphin and trained by Chris Waller, is winless in two starts at five furlongs, but is quick enough to take a forward position in the Lightning. Beiwacht won the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney last September and was fourth by four lengths in the Coolmore Stakes.

The Lightning Stakes lacks a confirmed frontrunner, although the 3-year-old filly Marhoona can race near the front. She is best known for winning the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds last March. The $3.16 million Golden Slipper, run at six furlongs, is the world’s richest race for 2-year-olds.

The Lightning Stakes has a post time of 12:10 a.m. Eastern on Saturday or 9:10 p.m. Pacific on Friday.

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