The Michael Moroney-trained Roch ‘N’ Horse will not get a chance to beat Chris Waller‘s super sprinter Nature Strip down the Flemington straight for a second time on Saturday after being scratched from the Group 1 $1 million Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) due to injury.
Dual Flemington Group 1 winning mare Roch ‘N’ Horse has been ruled out of the 2023 Black Caviar Lightning field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Moroney told the media on Saturday morning his dual Group 1 Flemington winner was suffering from a sore hind leg and would not be able to take her spot in the 2023 Black Caviar Lightning field at HQ.
The speedy daughter of Per Incanto was at a quote of around $13 in Black Caviar Lightning betting at Ladbrokes.com.au at the time of her scratching.
The six-year-old mare looked a great value choice for punters looking to bet against the short-priced favourite Nature Strip who is now into $2.10 Black Caviar Lightning odds to win his first-up assignment.
Roch ‘N’ Horse was last seen defeating Nature Strip in a long-neck upset last November when winning the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at $20 over the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
That was her second upset at elite level following on from her historic win last autumn at 100/1 in the Group Newmarket Handicap (1200m) also held down the famous ‘Straight Six’ track at Flemington.
Eight-year-old Nature Strip is now nearing odds-on territory to win the Black Caviar Lightning fresh this afternoon and add to his $20.6 million in stakes.
The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Group 1 Moir Stakes winning filly Coolangatta, who is also first-up, occupies the second line of betting having been well backed in from $9 to $6.
She is joined in the line-up by Oakleigh Plate winning mare Marabi ($7.50) and Manikato champ Bella Nipotina ($11) for the Maher/Eustace stable.
Peter Moody‘s resuming $10 million The Golden Eagle winner I Wish I Win ($10) is the other key player in betting for Flemington Race 7 at 4:20pm (AEDT) this afternoon.
Click here for the latest 2023 Black Caviar Lightning betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
