2023 Black Caviar Lightning Winner Is Coolangatta, Nature Strip Sixth

[Wandering Eyes]

The title of the world’s best sprinter looks up for grabs once again following the disappointing sixth by Nature Strip behind class filly Coolangatta in the Group 1 $1 million Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

2023 Black Caviar Lightning winner Coolangatta is likely to head to the UK this year for Royal Ascot. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Chris Waller‘s 2021 champ and $20.6 million earning eight-year-old has been a horse racing at elite level for many seasons, but Nature Strip was ultimately flat late when run down in the Black Caviar to kick off his autumn campaign.

Instead all eyes were on the returning Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Written Tycoon filly Coolangatta at $9 who held the measure of her older rivals first-up for a second Group 1 success.

Proving a genuine 1000m specialist she added the Black Caviar Lightning title to her maiden Group 1 victory from last spring in the Moir Stakes over the same distance at The Valley.

“Unbelievable she was so impressive she travelled into it so well she’s had a faultless prep,” co-trainer Eustace told Racing Victoria.

“It’s a great thrill.

“We were really confident she’d improved physically (from last prep). She’s bigger, she’s stronger, she’s heavier.

“This had been the race targeted for a long way out and it’s just fantastic to get another win.”

The Maher/Eustace team, celebrating a 21st Group 1 win in partnership in the Black Caviar Lightning 2023, will continue to target the 1000m events this season with Coolangatta who is likely to be UK-bound for Royal Ascot in June.

“To be honest from here the dream would be Royal Ascot for everyone involved,” Eustace said.

“She’s shown she likes the straight and I think everyone in the group would be keen to go there.

“Where she runs next I’m not sure but ultimately we’d like dot give that a crack.”

There she will look to add to the terrific record of Lightning Stakes graduates from down under in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) which is the race Nature Strip won in by nearly five lengths in his international debut last year.

Other horses to complete the Lightning Stakes / King’s Stand Stakes double include Choisir (2003), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007) and Scenic Blast (2009).

Coolangatta was given a 10/10 ride by Jamie Kah, who won the event two years ago aboard Nature Strip, in the Black Caviar Lightning.

She was on pace settled third out wider on the track as her stablemate Marabi led them around.

Inside the final furlong the eventual winner lifted coming down the middle of the track to charge home and hold out the fast finishing Peter Moody-trained I Wish I Win who came from last to second.

In third was Coolangatta’s stablemate, Group 1 Manikato Stakes winning mare Bella Nipotina, who was excellent first-up over the 1000m as she heads towards the inaugural $4 million The Quokka slot race in WA on April 15 representing [ladbrokes].

“Bella was fantastic, she’s so brave and was a credit to her,” Eustace said.

The Black Caviar Lightning result saw Coolangatta become the first filly to win the event since Regimental Gal (2004) 19 years earlier.

I Wish I Win put in the perfect first-up trial at 1000m ahead of the Group 1 $1.5 million Newmarket Handicap (1200m) back at the track on March 15.

The returning Golden Eagle winning four-year-old has firmed into $5 in all-in Newmarket Handicap odds online at Ladbrokes.

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