Black Opal Stakes

The Black Opal Stakes is a Group 3 race held at Canberra’s Thoroughbred Park in early March as a lead-up to the autumn Group 1 races in Sydney for 2YOs.

2024 Black Opal Stakes Results

  • 1st: #5 Holmes A Court
  • 2nd: #1 Fully Lit
  • 3rd: #3 Amazing Eagle



The Black Opal Stakes is a Group 3 sprint for two-year-olds run at Canberra Racecourse on a Sunday in early to mid March during the autumn racing season.

Black Opal Stakes Day takes place the Sunday following Randwick Guineas Day on the Saturday in Sydney and Newmarket Handicap Day at Flemington. The race offers $250,000 in total prize money and is a set weights plus penalties event run over 1200m.

The Black Opal Stakes has been won by plenty of quality juveniles over the years and a host of subsequent Group 1 winners have placed in the race including Prized Icon (3rd in 2016) who went on to win the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick that April during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

The Black Opal Stakes winner in 2017 was Trapeze Artist who finished in that autumn’s Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) before coming back in the spring to salute in an upset runaway effort in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m). Trapeze Artist would go on to win a further three Group 1 races in Sydney before his retirement.

Runners in the Black Opal Stakes field traditionally head to Sydney for their subsequent autumn runs in races including Rosehill’s Group 3 TL Baillieu Handicap (1400m) and the aforementioned ATC Champagne Stakes run during The Championships.

Two-year-olds may also back-up out of the Black Opal Stakes to run in the world’s richest race for that age group – the $4.92 million Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Racecourse a fortnight later. The only horse to date to complete the Black Opal Stakes – Golden Slipper double is Catbird (1999).

The Black Opal Stakes 2024 ran in Canberra on Sunday March 10, 2024 as a lead-up to the juvenile features in Sydney over the autumn and was won in a stylish upset by progressive Capitalist colt Holmes A Court ($7) for Team Snowden. 

2024 Black Opal Stakes
Date: Sunday March 10, 2024
Track: Canberra Racecourse
Distance: 1200m
Race Type: Set Weights + Penalties / Two-Year-Olds
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $250,000

2024 Black Opal Stakes Results

  • 1st: #5 Holmes A Court ($7)
  • 2nd: #1 Fully Lit
  • 3rd: #3 Amazing Eagle

Nicely-bred Capitalist colt Holmes A Court ($7) franked the form out of the Blue Diamond Prelude in Melbourne improving on a third there to dominate Canberra’s 2024 Black Opal Stakes results with a nearly two length win ahead of tougher autumn targets.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 5 HOLMES A COURT Peter & Paul Snowden Tommy Berry 5 56kg $7
2 1 FULLY LIT Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Regan Bayliss 1.45L 3 58kg $1.65F
3 3 AMAZING EAGLE Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Tyler Schiller 1.79L 4 56kg $8
4 2 ODINSON Ciaron Maher Tom Marquand 2.41L 10 58kg $11
5 8 VELLA’S BEST Gratz Vella Damon Budler 3.47L 7 56kg $9
6 7 PHORONEUS Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones Andrew Adkins 4.7L 1 56kg $101
7 12 SPIRIT IN THE DARK Keith Dryden Dylan Gibbons (a) 6.66L 11 54kg $101
8 9 DUPLI KATE Norm Gardner Ms Jess Taylor 7.27L 6 54kg $151
9 4 FULL METAL JACKET Gary Portelli Tom Sherry 10.52L 9 56kg $21
10 13 SPRITZY LASS Todd Smart Jeff Penza 22.26L 8 54kg $81
11 10 HOLD THE GOLD Matthew Kelley Ms Louise Day 25.29L 2 54kg $101
6 KING OF ROSEAU Peter & Paul Snowden Tom Sherry 0
11 SHEZAIN Keith Dryden 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 Black Opal Stakes Betting Odds

The latest autumn markets and Black Opal Stakes 2024 betting odds on the Golden Slipper Stakes lead-up this season will be available below the week of the race so stay tuned.

Queen Of The Ball ($2.80 in 2022) was the last favourite in Black Opal Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2024 BLACK OPAL STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2024 Black Opal Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 BLACK OPAL STAKES FORM GUIDE

2024 Black Opal Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Black Opal Stakes 2024 Tips on the Canberra Group 3 this autumn.

  • To Win: #1 Fully Lit ($1.45 at time of publish) – BET NOW

While recent upsets have surprised punters, the odds-on favorite Fully Lit appears poised to maintain its winning streak in Sunday’s Group 3 feature at Canberra. The undefeated Hellbent colt, trained by the renowned Waterhouse/Bott stable, has impressed in both its outings, securing comfortable victories at Rosehill and Randwick. Following a positive recent trial, Fully Lit is expected to continue its dominance, albeit at short odds, as it sets its sights on bigger goals in the upcoming autumn racing season.

2024 Black Opal Stakes Field

The Black Opal Stakes field always attracts a quality line-up of two-year-old sprinters from both local and interstate stables with many heading towards Group 1 targets in Sydney during the autumn.

The official 2024 Black Opal Stakes field and barriers is set for release on Wednesday March 6, 2024 and will be published below in full.

Inglis Millennium winning Hellbent colt Fully Lit for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott heads the 2024 Black Opal Stakes field and betting markets in Canberra this weekend.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 11 FULLY LIT Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Regan Bayliss 3 58kg
2 31×7 ODINSON Ciaron Maher Tom Marquand 12 58kg
3 2×2 AMAZING EAGLE Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Tyler Schiller 4 56kg
4 FULL METAL JACKET Gary Portelli 11 56kg
5 23 HOLMES A COURT Peter & Paul Snowden Tommy Berry 5 56kg
6 124 KING OF ROSEAU Peter & Paul Snowden Tom Sherry 10 56kg
7 0 PHORONEUS Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones Andrew Adkins 1 56kg
8 1 VELLA’S BEST Gratz Vella Damon Budler 7 56kg
9 5 DUPLI KATE Norm Gardner Ms Jess Taylor 6 54kg
10 8 HOLD THE GOLD Matthew Kelley Ms Louise Day 2 54kg
11 3 SHEZAIN Keith Dryden 8 54kg
12 8×0 SPIRIT IN THE DARK Keith Dryden Dylan Gibbons (a), (late alt) 13 54kg
13 33 SPRITZY LASS Todd Smart Jeff Penza 9 54kg

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 Black Opal Stakes Nominations

The early Black Opal Stakes 2024 nominations are out on Monday March 4, 2024 and will be updated below once confirmed.

Black Opal Stakes History

The Black Opal Stakes was first run back in 1973 and won by Rich Reward. Since then a host of exciting horses have taken out the Canberra clash including Spirit Of Kingston (1984), subsequent Golden Slipper winner Catbird (1999), Handsome Ranson (2003), Decision Time (2010), Epaulette (2012), Criterion (2013), Defcon (2016), and Trapeze Artist (2017).

The event started out as a Principal Race, gained Group 3 status in 1979 and for a decade ran as a Group 2 (1987 – 1998). It returned to Group 3 status from 1999 – 2005, dropped to a Listed event from 2006 – 2014 and since 2015 has regained Group 3 status.

The Black Opal Stakes race record of 1.09.6 was set in 1994 by St Covet.

The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained The Autumn Sun filly Autumn Ballet made Black Opal Stakes history in 2023 becoming the event’s first-ever debutant winner.

Recent Black Opal Stakes Winners

See below for the full Black Opal Stakes results and winners going back to the year 2000.

Year Place Horse Time
2024
Black Opal Stakes
1st Holmes A Court 1 minute 10.6 seconds
2nd Fully Lit
3rd Amazing Eagle
2023
Black Opal Stakes
1st Autumn Ballet 1 minute 10.06 seconds
2nd The Years
3rd Make A Call
2022
Black Opal Stakes
1st Queen Of The Ball 1 minute 10.21 seconds
2nd Warby
3rd Metallicity
2021
Black Opal Stakes
1st Kalashnikov 1 minute 09.60 seconds
2nd Solar Winds
3rd Rocket Tiger
2020
Black Opal Stakes
1st Barbaric 1 minute 11.44 seconds
2nd Bartley
3rd Cellsabeel
2019
Black Opal Stakes
1st Pin Sec 1 minute 10.88 seconds
2nd Rome
3rd Mclaren
2018
Black Opal Stakes
1st Encryption 1 minute 10.22 seconds
2nd Sizzling Belle
3rd Bondi
2017
Black Opal Stakes
1st Trapeze Artist 1 minute 10.77 seconds
2nd Trekking
3rd Muraaqeb
2016
Black Opal Stakes
1st Defcon 1 minute 10.6 seconds
2nd Flash Fibian
3rd Prized Icon
2015
Black Opal Stakes
1st Takedown 1 minute 10.5 seconds
2nd Single Gaze
3rd Antelucan
2014
Black Opal Stakes
1st Lucky Raquie 1 minute 11.1 seconds
2nd Mr Cha Cha
3rd Klammer
2013
Black Opal Stakes
1st Criterion 1 minute 10.6 seconds
2nd Sidestep
3rd Meticulously
2012
Black Opal Stakes
1st Epaulette 1 minute 12.5 seconds
2nd Faustas
3rd Later Gator
2011
Black Opal Stakes
1st You’re Canny 1 minute 12.7 seconds
2nd Karuta Queen
3rd Bright Heart
2010
Black Opal Stakes
1st Decision Time 1 minute 12.7 seconds
2nd Lohan
3rd Butt I’m Ready
2009
Black Opal Stakes
1st Delago Bolt 1 minute 10.9 seconds
2nd Phenomenal Lass
3rd Zikmann
2008
Black Opal Stakes
1st Sarthemare 1 minute 11.6 seconds
2nd Typhoon Fury
3rd De Lightning Ridge
2007
Black Opal Stakes
1st Race Not Run
2nd
3rd
2006
Black Opal Stakes
1st Down The Wicket 1 minute 09.9 seconds
2nd One Time
3rd Luvuleo
2005
Black Opal Stakes
1st Al Samer 1 minute 10.34 seconds
2nd Another Time
3rd Jet Spur
2004
Black Opal Stakes
1st Uber 1 minute 10.3 seconds
2nd St Pirian
3rd Just As Beautiful
2003
Black Opal Stakes
1st Handsome Ransom 1 minute 10.4 seconds
2nd Exceed And Excel
3rd Sansadee
2002
Black Opal Stakes
1st Planchet 1 minute 11.16 seconds
2nd Mukareena
3rd Majorette
2001
Black Opal Stakes
1st Coral Salute 1 minute 15.5 seconds
2nd Antagonise
3rd Finbarr
2000
Black Opal Stakes
1st Pembleton 1 minute 11.05 seconds
2nd Donna Dior
3rd Royal Joke

This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Z...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pr...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

Pride Of Jenni was enormous running her rivals ragged with a blistering...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results:...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Dublin Down is into Saturday week’s 2024 Golden Slipper field after a gutsy...

Magic Night Winner Drifting Fi...

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Drifting did plenty right to win the 2024 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill on...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results:...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

Celestial Legend put the writing on the wall for a huge year ahead with the...

Race Results

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Zougotcha Dives Late to Salute

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Race Previews

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

Fields & Form

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

2024 Randwick Guineas Field & Odds Update: Militarize Set to Strike Second-Up