Black Opal Stakes Explained

Surface:	Turf
Class:	Group 3
Horse Race:	Black Opal Stakes
Location:	Canberra Racecourse, Canberra, Australia
Inaugurated:	1973
Race Type:	Thoroughbred - flat
Distance:	1,200 metres
Track:	Right-handed
Qualification:	Two year old
Weight:	Set weights with penalties
Purse:	A$200,000 (2023)
Sponsor:	John McGrath Auto Group (2023)

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] Total prize money for the race is A$200,000.

History

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.^[1]
Race record is held by St Covet in 1994 with the time of 1.09.6.^[2]

Winners

• 2023 - Autumn Ballet^[3]
• 2022 - Queen Of The Ball^[4]
• 2021 - Kalashnikov^[5]
• 2020 - Barbaric^[6]
• 2019 - Pin Sec^[7]
• 2018 - Encryption^[8]
• 2017 - Trapeze Artist^[9]
• 2016 - Defcon^[10]
• 2015 - Takedown^[11]
• 2014 - Lucky Raquie^[12]
• 2013 - Criterion^[13]
• 2012 - Epaulette^[14]
• 2011 - You're Canny^[15]
• 2010 - Decision Time^[16]
• 2009 - Delago Bolt^[17]
• 2008 - Sarthemare^[18]
• 2007 - †race not held
• 2006 - Down The Wicket^[19]
• 2005 - Al Samer^[20]
• 2004 - Uber^[21]
• 2003 - Handsome Ransom^[22]
• 2002 - Planchet^[23]
• 2001 - Coral Salute^[24]
• 2000 - Pembleton^[25]
• 1999 - Catbird^[26]
• 1998 - Speed Week^[27]
• 1997 - Fraud^[28]
• 1996 - Paint^[29]
• 1995 - Zadok^[30]
• 1994 - St. Covet^[31]
• 1993 - Danger^[32]
• 1992 - Clan O'Sullivan^[33]
• 1991 - Sormani^[34]
• 1990 - Unspoken Word^[35]
• 1989 - Marks Gain^[36]
• 1988 - Comely Girl^[37]
• 1987 - Maizcay^[38]
• 1986 - Just Blooming^[39]
• 1985 - New Atlantis^[40]
• 1984 - Spirit Of Kingston^[41]
• 1983 - Brummel Who^[42]
• 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.^[43]

See also

• List of Australian Group races
• Group races

External links

• First three placegetters Black Opal Stakes

Notes and References

1. Web site: Black Opal Stakes . 9 March 2015. Horse Racing Info (Australia). 2014.
2. Web site: Black Opal Stakes Winners Past Results. 9 March 2015. RaceRate (Australia). 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402193330/http://www.racerate.com/Black_Opal_Stakes_winners.htm. 2 April 2015. dead.
3. Web site: 2023 Result  - John McGrath Auto Black Opal Stakes (held 12 March 2023). racingpost.com. 14 March 2023.
4. Web site: 2022 Result  - John McGrath Auto Black Opal Stakes (held 13 March 2022). breednet.com.au. 20 March 2022.
5. Web site: 2021 Result  - John McGrath Auto Black Opal Stakes (held 7 March 2021). breednet.com. 7 March 2021.
6. Web site: 2020 Result  - John McGrath Auto Black Opal Stakes (held 8 March 2020). breednet.com. 8 March 2020.
7. Web site: 2019 Result  - John McGrath Auto Black Opal Stakes (held 10 March 2019). breednet.com. 10 March 2019.
8. Web site: 2018 Result  - Black Opal (held 11 March 2018). breednet.com. 5 March 2018.
9. Web site: 2017 Result  - Mercede Benz Black Opal Stakes (held 5 March 2017). breednet.com. 5 March 2017.
10. Web site: 2016 Result  - Mercede Benz Black Opal Stakes (held 6 March 2016). breednet.com. 6 March 2016.
11. Web site: 2015 Result  - Seppelt Black Opal Stakes (held 8 March 2015). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
12. Web site: 2014 Result  - Seppelt Black Opal Stakes (held 9 March 2014). Racing NSW (Aus.). 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171231102504/http://racing.racingnsw.com.au/InteractiveForm/Meeting.aspx?meetcode=MzQwNjMyMDcy#Race6. 31 December 2017. dead.
13. Web site: 2013 Result  - Kamberra Wine Company Black Opal Stakes (held 10 March 2013). Racing NSW (Aus.). 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103843/http://racing.racingnsw.com.au/InteractiveForm/Meeting.aspx?meetcode=MzM4OTMwODU2#Race6. 31 December 2017. dead.
14. Web site: 2012 Result  - Kamberra Wine Company Black Opal Stakes (held 11 March 2012). Racing NSW (Aus.). 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103917/http://racing.racingnsw.com.au/InteractiveForm/Meeting.aspx?meetcode=MzM2NTM0NjYw#Race6. 31 December 2017. dead.
15. Web site: 2011 Result  - Kamberra Wine Company Black Opal Stakes (held 13 March 2011). Racing NSW (Aus.). 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103926/http://racing.racingnsw.com.au/InteractiveForm/Meeting.aspx?meetcode=MzMyNzU2ODIw#Race6. 31 December 2017. dead.
16. Web site: 2010 Result  - Kamberra Wine Company Black Opal Stakes (held 7 March 2010). Racing NSW (Aus.). 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171231102457/http://racing.racingnsw.com.au/InteractiveForm/Meeting.aspx?meetcode=MzI2MzIwNjMy#Race6. 31 December 2017. dead.
17. Web site: 2009 Result  - AAMI Black Opal Stakes (held 8 March 2009). Racing NSW (Aus.). 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171231105351/http://racing.racingnsw.com.au/InteractiveForm/Meeting.aspx?meetcode=MzI1MDY1MzEy#Race6. 31 December 2017. dead.
18. Web site: 2008 Result  - AAMI Black Opal Stakes (held 24 February 2008). Racing NSW (Aus.). 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171231102955/http://racing.racingnsw.com.au/InteractiveForm/Meeting.aspx?meetcode=MzIzMzkyMjEy#Race7. 31 December 2017. dead.
19. Web site: 2006 Result  - AAMI Black Opal Stakes (held 19 March 2006). Racing NSW (Aus.). 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171231102940/http://racing.racingnsw.com.au/InteractiveForm/Meeting.aspx?meetcode=Mjc2NDMzMzQ0#Race5. 31 December 2017. dead.
20. Web site: 2005 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 26 February 2005). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
21. Web site: 2004 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 13 March 2004). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
22. Web site: 2003 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 22 March 2003). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
23. Web site: 2002 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 2 March 2002). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
24. Web site: 2001 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 17 March 2001). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
25. Web site: 2000 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 20 March 2000). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
26. Web site: 1999 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 7 March 1999). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
27. Web site: 1998 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 15 March 1998). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
28. Web site: 1997 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 2 March 1997). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
29. Web site: 1996 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 17 March 1996). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
30. Web site: 1995 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 5 March 1995). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
31. Web site: 1994 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 6 March 1994). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
32. Web site: 1993 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 7 March 1993). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
33. Web site: 1992 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 15 March 1992). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
34. Web site: 1991 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 3 March 1991). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
35. Web site: 1990 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 18 March 1990). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
36. Web site: 1989 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 5 March 1989). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
37. Web site: 1988 Result  - Black Opal Stakes (held 6 March 1988). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
38. Web site: 1987 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 22 March 1987). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
39. Web site: 1986 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 9 March 1986). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
40. Web site: 1985 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 10 March 1985). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
41. Web site: 1984 Result  - 1984 Black Opal Stks (held 18 March 1984). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
42. Web site: 1983 Result  - Black Opal Stks (held 6 March 1983). breednet.com. 9 March 2015.
43. Web site: Canberra back on track. 11 November 2007. Tony. White. Sydney Morning Herald. 6 March 2016.