Taking on Nature Strip is one of the ultimate challenges in racing, but Ciaron Maher and David Eustace believe they have three genuine challengers for the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington on Saturday.
Bella Nipotina, Coolangatta and Marabi are all first-up and ready to pick up where they left off from their last preparations.
Coolangatta is the second favourite behind Chris Waller's superstar sprinter, with Bovada offering +600 for the filly.
The highlight of three-year-old's last campaign was her first victory at Group 1 level, saluting in the Moir Stakes when courageously holding out stablemate Bella Nipotima in a thrilling front-running performance.
Maher and Eustace's racing manager, Reece Murphy, cannot wait to see how Coolangatta again goes about her business in elite company.
“Excited to see her back. She's a very exciting filly,” he told HorseBetting.com.au.
“We're taking on Nature Strip, which is probably the toughest task in sprint racing.
“She's a lightly raced horse on the way up, and she deserves a crack to see if she can knock off Nature Strip.”
Bella Nipotina will carry +1000 odds into the Group 1 sprint over 1000m.
After her narrow defeat to Coolangatta in the Moir Stakes, in her next start she won the Group 1 Manikato Stakes in breathtaking fashion.
Ridden by champion jockey Craig Williams, she took advantage of her No.1 barrier position to hit the front at the 200m mark.
She was not headed from there, going on the win by a stunning 4 ¾ lengths.
“She just got the conditions to suit. We always thought she was a Group 1 winner and she obviously got better with racing,” Murphy said.
“She just lifted every time she went to the races, so it was gradual improvement for her.”
Marabi has also been rated an +1000 chance, as has Peter Moody's Golden Eagle winner, I Wish I Win.
Maher and Eustace's six-year-old mare incredibly won the first seven starts of her career, including the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate last year, before finishing fifth in the William Reid Stakes.
She subsequently had a bone-chip operation and is back to full health.
“Marabi's a horse we've had a lot of time for,” Murphy said.
“Beating Nature Strip or even Coolangatta in this race, I think she's had a bit of time off and will derive great benefit from this first-up run.
“I think so (she can get back to her winning ways). Her target is the William Reid at Moonee Valley in a couple weeks' time.”
Murphy said Marabi and Bella Nipotina were originally targeted for the $750,000 Oakleigh Plate over 1100m at Sandown on February 25.
“But after looking at the weights, we're better suited to this race,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Maher and Eustace stable is also excited at what lies ahead for promising two-year-olds Kundalini, Steel City and Veecee.
Kundalini finished third in the Inglis Millennium at Randwick on Saturday, a length behind precocious victor Learning To Fly for Annabel Neasham.
“She ran super. She'll stay up in Sydney and head towards the Golden Slipper,” Murphy said.
“And in the Blue Diamond we'll have Steel City and Veecee.”
Murphy was also impressed with the efforts of Marine One (fourth in the Rubiton Stakes), The Fortune Teller (third in the Autumn Stakes) and Nugget (third in the CF Orr Stakes) on the weekend.
“Marine One – super return. We're still working out where we're going with him,” he said.
“Fortune Teller will go straight to the (Australian) Guineas and Nugget (to) the Futurity.”
The Australian Guineas will be run at Flemington on March 4, while the Futurity Stakes is scheduled for February 25 at Sandown.
2023 Black Caviar Lightning field
| No. | Silks | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Nature Strip | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 1 | 58.5kg |
| 2 |  | I Wish I Win | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 4 | 58.5kg |
| 3 |  | Baller | Tony Gollan | Mark Zahra | 8 | 58.5kg |
| 4 |  | Fire | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Damien Oliver | 3 | 58.5kg |
| 5 |  | Bella Nipotina | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Ben Melham | 7 | 56.5kg |
| 6 |  | Roch ‘N' Horse | Mike Moroney | Jamie Mott | 2 | 56.5kg |
| 7 |  | September Run | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 5 | 56.5kg |
| 8 |  | Marabi | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Ben Allen | 5 | 56.5kg |
| 9 |  | Buenos Noches | Matthew Smith | Craig Williams | 11 | 55.5kg |
| 10 |  | Millane | Peter Moody | Daniel Stackhouse | 10 | 55.5kg |
| 11 |  | Coolangatta | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Jamie Kah | 9 | 53.5kg |