I Am Me can book trip to Royal Ascot with Group 1 Lightning Stakes victory

Group 1 success this autumn, starting with Saturday’s Lightning Stakes, could enhance the prospects of a Ciaron Maher mare heading to Royal Ascot.

I Am Me could streamline Royal Ascot ambitions with victory in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) on Saturday at Flemington.

Trying to win a Group 1 with the fast mare remains a priority for trainer Ciaron Maher and Dynamic Syndications but there is interest in a potential international raid.

“Everything is open … she is good enough,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.

“But if she came back and was successful on Saturday it really sets her up, potentially, for what could be a trip overseas.”

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

The Lightning has historically been linked to Royal Ascot success, with Choisir (2003), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007) and Scenic Blast (2009) all winning abroad.

The late champion Black Caviar (2012) is the last to win the Lightning and again at Royal Ascot in the same year.

Nature Strip, the 2021 Lightning winner, travelled the following year and demolished his opposition in the 2022 King’s Stand Stakes.

Recent Lightning winners Home Affairs (2022) and Maher-trained Coolangatta (2023) were unplaced in respective Royal Ascot bids.

• Black Caviar Lightning Stakes tips, runner-by-runner form analysis

“Ultimately it’s up to Adam (Watt of Dynamic Syndications) and Ciaron,” Turnbull said.

“First and foremost if she could win a Group 1, that’s what we really need.

“She’s a very valuable mare, she’s got a lot of prizemoney behind her and she is a winner.

“She’s very effective down the straight, which is key, she’s got a lot of the factors you do require (for Royal Ascot).”

Multiple Group 1-placed I Am Me is expected to fight out the finish on Saturday, despite strong opposition from Switzerland, Maher stablemate Growing Empire and Traffic Warden most notably.

I Am Me is chasing a Group 1 win in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

I Am Me has won four of six starts first-up.

She defeated subsequent The Everest winner and stablemate Bella Nipotina fresh last spring.

“She’s well-rehearsed, well-travelled and a bit older now,” Turnbull said.

“She’s very effective on fast ground, she fires fresh.

“She’s going to be there for a long way on Saturday.”

• Brad Waters’ Flemington Saturday tips, analysis: $19 value bet

Turnbull is also excited for Growing Empire to match motors again with Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland.

Growing Empire finished three lengths behind Switzerland in the Coolmore last November.

“I’m excited because Growing Empire meets him fresh,” Turnbull said.

“They’re both first-up on level playing fields, when we met him last prep we were fifth-up with travel (back from Sydney), hindsight this is.

“I believe we’ve come on and I’m sure Switzerland has too.

“It’s what you want for racing, Group 1 races, well-bred colts, they’re pretty much the starts of their generation over a sprint trip, hopefully they’re fighting it out.”

Growing Empire opened his three-year-old spring account with back-to-back wins and then placed in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes – touched off on the post – and The Everest respectively.

Growing Empire has recorded four wins from eight starts and not missed a place.

Originally published as I Am Me can book trip to Royal Ascot with Group 1 Lightning Stakes victory