Tentyris electric in Black Caviar Lightning Stakes return | Just horse racing

Last year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes hinted as much and the Black Caviar Lightning confirmed it, with Tentyris declaring herself Australia’s newest sprinter at Flemington on Saturday.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt claimed back-to-back victories in Group 1 with an explosive performance against proven weight-for-age performers in the 1000m.

The win came on his first start since proving a class above his own age group in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Derby Day and Sam Freedman said his father, who was once part of the all-conquering ‘FBI’ – Freedman Brothers Incorporated – left him in no doubt about the type of horse they were dealing with.

“He’s been around for so long and at the end of the spring campaign he said to me, this could be the best horse you’ve ever trained,” Sam said.

“(I said) I thought you were going to suggest that you had trained someone better in the 1990s and 2000s – there was a bit of grit, they had mahogany and Schillaci – but he’s building his own record that will hopefully be close to some of the best.”

Tentyris ($2.60 favourite), a son of Street Boss, came from last in the small field of eight to relegate the John McArdle-trained filly My Gladiola to second again in what was a repeat of the Coolmore Stud Stakes quinella.

My Gladiola ($7) cut the Coolmore margin from 2-1/4 lengths to three-quarters of a length in the Lightning, which was the same distance to third-place Benedetta ($26).

Damian Lane, who rode Tentyris to second in the Blue Diamond Stakes last year, regained the ride on Saturday, replacing the injured Mark Zahra, describing him as an ‘incredible talent’.

“We just let him play with how he steps out of the barriers, it was just a risk whether the 1000 would be short (but) it certainly wasn’t,” Lane said.

“Halfway through the race I had to ask him to pick up the bridle and when he did he competed really well and as had become his trademark, that last part of his race was excellent.”

The Lightning victory was part of a quartet of victories for Lane, who won the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes aboard Sixties and recorded Listed victories aboard Hard Kick and Sass Appeal.

Tentyris is now $2 favorite for the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at his favorite track on March 7 and while Freedman said this was their preferred next start, his performance would depend on weight.

“I would love to come to Newmarket if he wasn’t severely punished for the win. It’s not easy for a three-year-old to carry such a big weight,” he said.

“We’ll have to talk about where he goes, but I can assure you it’s a very good problem to have.”

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