2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Results: Cox Plate Hope Mr Brightside Salutes First-Up
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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.
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 |
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.
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.
Stay tuned for our insider Black Opal Stakes 2023 Tips on the Canberra Group 3 this autumn.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |