Black Opal Stakes
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| Class | Group 3 |
|---|---|
| Location | Canberra Racecourse, Canberra, Australia |
| Inaugurated | 1973 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - flat |
| Sponsor | John McGrath Auto Group (2018-2026) |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1,200 metres |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Two year old |
| Weight | Set weights with penalties |
| Purse | A$200,000 (2026) |
The Black Opal Stakes is a Canberra Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race, for two-year-olds, at set weights, over a distance of 1200 metres, held annually at Canberra Racecourse in Canberra, Australia in March.[1]
In the Beginning
Brian Connell, while on a prospecting holiday found a chip of opal and thought, 'black opal', what a great name for a race. He raised the idea for the establishment of Canberra's premier race to the committee of the Canberra Racing Club, on June 5, 1972, and Connell moved that the club conduct a classic event for two-year-olds in the 1973-74 season. The groundwork for the start of the race was made with a sub-committee comprising Connell, vice-president Geoff Small and Jim O'Sullivan.[2]
Grade
- 1975–1978 - Principal Race
- 1979–1986 - Group 3
- 1987–1998 - Group 2
- 1999–2005 - Group 3
- 2006–2014 - Listed Race
- 2015 onwards - Group 3
Records
Catbird (1999) is the only two-year-old to have taken out the Black Opal Stakes & Golden Slipper Stakes double since its inception.
The fastest winning time is by King Of Pop in 2025 with 1:09.13 breaking the longstanding race record held by St Covet since 1994 (1:09.6).[3]
Recent multiple winners
Trainers
- Paul Snowden in 2016 and with Peter Snowden in 2020, 2021 and 2024.
- Peter Snowden in 2012 and with Paul Snowden in 2020, 2021 and 2024.
- Gary Portelli in 2001, 2006 and 2009
- Gerald Ryan in 2014 and 2017 and with Sterling Alexiou in 2025.
Jockeys
- Glyn Schofield in 2013, 2014 and 2018
Winners
The following are past winners of the race.[4]
- 2026 - Music Time
- 2025 - King Of Pop
- 2024 - Holmes A Court
- 2023 - Autumn Ballet[5]
- 2022 - Queen Of The Ball[6]
- 2021 - Kalashnikov[7]
- 2020 - Barbaric[8]
- 2019 - Pin Sec[9]
- 2018 - Encryption[10]
- 2017 - Trapeze Artist[11]
- 2016 - Defcon[12]
- 2015 - Takedown[13]
- 2014 - Lucky Raquie[14]
- 2013 - Criterion[15]
- 2012 - Epaulette[16]
- 2011 - You're Canny[17]
- 2010 - Decision Time[18]
- 2009 - Delago Bolt[19]
- 2008 - Sarthemare[20]
- 2007 - †race not held
- 2006 - Down The Wicket[21]
- 2005 - Al Samer[22]
- 2004 - Uber[23]
- 2003 - Handsome Ransom[24]
- 2002 - Planchet[25]
- 2001 - Coral Salute[26]
- 2000 - Pembleton[27]
- 1999 - Catbird[28]
- 1998 - Speed Week[29]
- 1997 - Fraud[30]
- 1996 - Paint[31]
- 1995 - Zadok[32]
- 1994 - St. Covet[33]
- 1993 - Danger[34]
- 1992 - Clan O'Sullivan[35]
- 1991 - Sormani[36]
- 1990 - Unspoken Word[37]
- 1989 - Marks Gain[38]
- 1988 - Comely Girl[39]
- 1987 - Maizcay[40]
- 1986 - Just Blooming[41]
- 1985 - New Atlantis[42]
- 1984 - Spirit Of Kingston[43]
- 1983 - Brummel Who[44]
- 1982 - Beans
- 1981 - Chinese Treasure
- 1980 - Nasau
- 1979 - Star Grace
- 1978 - Gold Mosaic
- 1977 - Blazing Saddles
- 1976 - Bianca
- 1975 - Silver Shadow
- 1974 - Royal Brittania
- 1973 - Rich Reward
† Canberra's racetrack, Thoroughbred Park was under redevelopment.[45]