LIGHTNING STAKES WINNERS |
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Aami Vase
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Group races total over 540+ races each year which works out around 2-3% of total races held each season in Australia.
Group races are divided into 4 categories;
Group 1 - at least $250,000 prizemoney - 60+ races per season
Group 2 - at least $125,000 prizemoney - 80+ races per season
Group 3 - at least $75,000 prizemoney - 110+ races per season
Listed - at least $50,000 prizemoney - 280+ races per season
The Australian horse racing season runs from August to July each year and we have listed all the Group 1 and Group 2 races on the racing calendar.
The Lightning Stakes is a Group 1 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1000 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne in February.
The Lightning Stakes is the first Group 1 race on the Australian Racing Calendar, taking place in either late January or early February annually. The Lighting Stakes has been the first leg of the Global Sprint Challenge since 2005 and it is followed by the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse which is an ideal lead up race.
The race has been won by many of Australia's best sprinters over the years and more often than not it will be taken out by a top class racehorse.
| Year | Lightning Stakes Winners | Status | Distance |
| 2009 | Scenic Blast | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 2008 | Apache Cat | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 2007 | Miss Andretti | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 2006 | Takeover Target | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 2005 | Fastnet Rock | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 2004 | Regimental Gal | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 2003 | Choisir | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 2002 | Spinning Hill | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 2001 | Sports | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 2000 | Testa Rossa | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1999 | Isca | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1998 | General Nediym | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1997 | Mahogany | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1996 | Gold Ace | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1995 | Mahogany | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1994 | Keltrice | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1993 | Schillaci | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1992 | Schillaci | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1991 | Shaftesbury Avenue | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1990 | Redelva | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1989 | Zeditae | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1988 | Special | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1987 | Placid Ark | Group 1 | 1000m |
| 1986 | Hula Chief | Group 2 | 1000m |
| 1985 | River Rough | Group 2 | 1000m |
| 1984 | River Rough | Group 2 | 1000m |
| 1983 | Demus | Group 2 | 1000m |
| 1982 | He's A Haze | Group 2 | 1000m |
| 1981 | Countess Marizza | Group 2 | 1000m |
| 1980 | Sportscast | Group 2 | 1000m |
| 1979 | The Judge | Principal race | 1000m |
| 1978 | Maybe Mahal | Principal race | 1000m |
| 1977 | Maybe Mahal | Principal race | 1000m |
| 1976 | Desirable | Principal race | 1000m |
| 1975 | Cap D'Antibes | Principal race | 1000m |
| 1974 | Century | Principal race | 1000m |
| 1973 | Make Mine Roses | Principal race | 1000m |
| 1972 | Zambari | Principal race | 5F |
| 1971 | Dual Choice | Principal race | 5F |
| 1970 | Black Onyx | Principal race | 5F |
| 1969 | Mister Hush | Principal race | 5F |
| 1968 | Begonia Belle | Principal race | 5F |
| 1967 | Storm Queen | Principal race | 5F |
| 1966 | Citius | Principal race | 5F |
| 1965 | Marmion | Principal race | 5F |
| 1964 | Wenona Girl | Principal race | 5F |
| 1963 | Wenona Girl | Principal race | 5F |
| 1962 | Sky High | Principal race | 5F |
| 1961 | Sky High | Principal race | 5F |
| 1960 | Todman | Principal race | 5F |
| 1959 | Ritmar | Principal race | 5F |
| 1958 | Misting | Principal race | 5F |
| 1957 | Copper Year | Principal race | 5F |
| 1956 | Apple Bay | Principal race | 5F |
| 1955 | Gay Vista | Principal race | 5F |