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.

2023 Black Opal Stakes Results

  • 1st: #14 Autumn Ballet
  • 2nd: #4 The Years
  • 3rd: #3 Make A Call



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

Black Opal Stakes Day takes place the Sunday following Coolmore Classic Day on the Saturday in Sydney and ‘Super Saturday’ at Flemington. The race offers $200,000 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 $5 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 2023 ran in Canberra on Sunday March 12, 2023 and saw the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained filly Autumn Ballet ($4.40) become the first ever debutant to win the event.  

2023 Black Opal Stakes
Date: Sunday March 12, 2023
Track: Canberra Racecourse
Distance: 1200m
Race Type: Set Weights + Penalties / Two-Year-Olds
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $200,000

2023 Black Opal Stakes Results

  • 1st: #14 Autumn Ballet ($4.40)
  • 2nd: #4 The Years
  • 3rd: #3 Make A Call

Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott’s beautifully bred The Autumn Sun filly Autumn Ballet ($4.40) produced a sensational debut when dominating the 2023 Black Opal Stakes results with a two-length romp home over her stablemate The Years to become the event’s first ever debutant winner.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 14 AUTUMN BALLET Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 4 54kg $4.40
2 4 THE YEARS (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Regan Bayliss 2.07L 5 56kg $4.20
3 3 MAKE A CALL Peter & Paul Snowden Sam Clipperton 3.21L 10 56kg $26
4 16e TIZ INVINCIBLE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Michael Dee 3.45L 9 54kg $2.70F
5 1 DISNECK Bjorn Baker Ms Rachel King 3.5L 1 57kg $20
6 11 MADEIRA SUNRISE Michael Freedman Keagan Latham 5.77L 3 55kg $19
7 8 CAP FERRAT Chris Waller James McDonald 6.55L 7 56kg $10
8 5 LOVE SHUCK Todd Smart Jay Ford 7.28L 11 56kg $26
9 6 CHOP THE ICE Gratz Vella Shaun Guymer 8.92L 6 56kg $151
10 13 LADY JEZAM Gary Portelli Tyler Schiller (a) 15.69L 2 54kg $61
11 2 LEGOLAS Bjorn Baker Brock Ryan 16.62L 8 56kg $18
17e MISS GHENT Norm Gardner 0
15e DYLAN’S LAD Annabel Neasham 0
9 GUSTOSISIMO Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 0
7 RAZORS James Cummings Kerrin McEvoy 0
12 EMPRESS OF WONDER Annabel Neasham 0
10 LIMBURG Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Black Opal Stakes Betting Odds

The latest autumn markets and Black Opal Stakes 2023 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 2023 BLACK OPAL STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Black Opal Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 BLACK OPAL STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Black Opal Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Black Opal Stakes 2023 Tips on the Canberra Group 3 this autumn.

  • To Win: #2 Legolas ($13 at time of publish) 

Going for a proven value runner in the Black Opal with Legolas scratching out of the Group 2 Pago Pago in Sydney on Saturday in favour of this Canberra run on Sunday. Widely-drawn but presents fit third-up for trainer Bjorn Baker. The nicely-bred son of Capitalist was third two back at Newcastle narrowly beaten before improving to break his maiden status with a win in the Preview here on February 24. Needs to improve again and overcome the gate, but the odds are attractive and he’s going in the right direction.

2023 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 2023 Black Opal Stakes field and barriers is set for release on Thursday March 9, 2023 and will be published below in full.

The Black Opal Stakes 2023 final field features a smart field of potential Golden Slipper-bound two-year-olds led in betting by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained The Autumn Sun filly Autumn Ballet on debut off a seven length trial win at Rosehill late last month. 

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 815×5 DISNECK Bjorn Baker Ms Rachel King (late alt) 1 57kg
2 9×31 LEGOLAS Bjorn Baker Brock Ryan 12 56kg
3 4×326 MAKE A CALL Peter & Paul Snowden Sam Clipperton 15 56kg
4 41 THE YEARS (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Regan Bayliss 8 56kg
5 1 LOVE SHUCK Todd Smart Jay Ford 17 56kg
6 234 CHOP THE ICE Gratz Vella Shaun Guymer 10 56kg
7 70×7 RAZORS James Cummings Kerrin McEvoy 2 56kg
8 5 CAP FERRAT Chris Waller James McDonald 11 56kg
9 GUSTOSISIMO Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 6 56kg
10 LIMBURG Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 14 56kg
11 16 MADEIRA SUNRISE Michael Freedman Keagan Latham 5 55kg
12 22735 EMPRESS OF WONDER Annabel Neasham 16 54kg
13 4 LADY JEZAM Gary Portelli Tyler Schiller (a) 4 54kg
14 AUTUMN BALLET Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 7 54kg
15e DYLAN’S LAD Annabel Neasham 9 56kg
16e TIZ INVINCIBLE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Michael Dee 13 54kg
17e MISS GHENT Norm Gardner 3 54kg

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Black Opal Stakes Nominations

The early Black Opal Stakes 2023 nominations are out on Tuesday March 7, 2023 and will be updated below once confirmed.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 12 ALLABOUTELLA F 2 Michael Freedman
2 44 AUGUST BLOOM F 2 Peter & Paul Snowden
3 AUTUMN BALLET F 2 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
4 13 BASES LOADED C 2 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
5 13×23 BLANC DE BLANC F 2 Michael Freedman
6 5 CAP FERRAT C 2 Chris Waller
7 234 CHOP THE ICE G 2 Gratz Vella
8 815×5 DISNECK C 2 Bjorn Baker
9 DYLAN’S LAD G 2 Annabel Neasham
10 22735 EMPRESS OF WONDER F 2 Annabel Neasham
11 6 FIGHTERTOWN C 2 Chris Waller
12 GUSTOSISIMO C 2 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
13 4 HELLDANCER F 2 Bjorn Baker
14 IDHANA C 2 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
15 1 INTRODUCING C 2 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
16 4 LADY JEZAM F 2 Gary Portelli
17 9×31 LEGOLAS G 2 Bjorn Baker
18 LIBERTAD C 2 Annabel Neasham
19 LIMBURG C 2 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
20 1 LOVE SHUCK G 2 Todd Smart
21 16 MADEIRA SUNRISE F 2 Michael Freedman
22 4×326 MAKE A CALL C 2 Peter & Paul Snowden
23 MISS GHENT F 2 Norm Gardner
24 39 PORTOROSA F 2 Annabel Neasham
25 70×7 RAZORS C 2 James Cummings
26 220 STEEL CITY F 2 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
27 41 THE YEARS (NZ) C 2 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
28 TIZ INVINCIBLE F 2 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
29 1 TU QUI SANTUZZA F 2 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
30 4 UNTOUCHABLE LEGEND F 2 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
31 15×10 ZULFIQAR C 2 James Cummings

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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
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

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

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Unspoken Posts Narrow 2023 The...

Unspoken Posts Narrow 2023 The Five Diamonds Win

The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Unspoken came away with a narrow victory...

2023 Champions Stakes Results:...

2023 Champions Stakes Results: Atishu and J Mac Beat Duais and Ollie

James McDonald stopped the retiring Damien Oliver from a swansong Group 1 win...

2023 Champions Mile Results: P...

2023 Champions Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni All-The-Way Winner

Pride Of Jenni secured her second Group 1 success in the space of seven days...

2023 Champions Sprint Results:...

2023 Champions Sprint Results: Imperatriz Just Keeps Winning

Mark Walker’s brilliant sprint star Imperatriz just keeps on winning with the...

Race Results

Military Mission Fires in 2023 Zipping Classic Results

Unspoken Posts Narrow 2023 The Five Diamonds Win

2023 Champions Stakes Results: Atishu and J Mac Beat Duais and Ollie

2023 Champions Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni All-The-Way Winner

2023 Champions Sprint Results: Imperatriz Just Keeps Winning

Race Previews

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

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

Antino Heads 2023 Five Diamonds Field & Betting

Fields & Form

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

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

Antino Heads 2023 Five Diamonds Field & Betting