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.
2025 Black Opal Stakes Results
- 1st: #7 King Of Pop
- 2nd: #5 Farcited
- 3rd: #10 Sanctified
Black Opal Stakes News
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 as a Golden Slipper lead-up race.
2025 Black Opal Stakes Results
- 1st: #7 King Of Pop ($3.90)
- 2nd: #5 Farcited
- 3rd: #10 Sanctified
Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou’s well-bred Farnan colt King Of Pop ($3.90) made it two-from-two to remain undefeated following a narrow but convincing win after wearing down another son of Farnan, Farcited, to salute in the 2025 Black Opal Stakes results on Canberra Cup Day. He firms into $11 in the pre-field 2025 Golden Slipper Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Black Opal Stakes 2025 Odds & Results
John Mcgrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes (G3)
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
7. King Of Pop (4)
J: Zac Lloyd 56kg
T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou |
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|
2nd
5. Farcited (6)
J: Adam Hyeronimus 56kg
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
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|
3rd
10. Sanctified (7)
J: Tyler Schiller 56kg
T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou |
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|
4th
9. Nordic Viking (11)
J: Nash Rawiller 56kg
T: John Sargent |
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|
5th
8. Nashville Jack (2)
J: Alysha Collett 56kg
T: Brad Widdup |
||
|
6th
11. Steel Knight (1)
J: Josh Parr 56kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
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|
7th
17. Mavniczs (8)
J: Jess Taylor 56kg
T: Sam Shires |
||
|
8th
12. Tropic (9)
J: James McDonald 56kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
9th
6. Hillier (3)
J: Chad Schofield 56kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
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|
10th
15. Party Boss (10)
J: Blaike McDougall 56kg
T: Gary Colvin |
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|
11th
18. Time For Snow (5)
J: Jean Van Overmeire 56kg
T: Anthony Warren |
Data retrieved: 07/04/2025 09:59:59 PM (Australia/Brisbane)
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 currently 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 2025 ran in Canberra on Sunday March 9, 2025 as a lead-up to the juvenile features in Sydney over the autumn and saw progressive Farnan colt King Of Pop ($3.90) wear down Farcited to win in an exciting finish.
| 2025 Black Opal Stakes | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Sunday March 9, 2025 |
| Track: | Canberra Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1200m |
| Race Type: | Set Weights + Penalties / Two-Year-Olds |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $200,000 |
2025 Black Opal Stakes Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | KING OF POP | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Zac Lloyd | 4 | 56kg | $3.90 | |||
| 2 | 5 | FARCITED | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 0.29L | 6 | 56kg | $2.70F | ||
| 3 | 10 | SANCTIFIED (NZ) | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tyler Schiller | 1.41L | 7 | 56kg | $11 | ||
| 4 | 9 | NORDIC VIKING | John Sargent | Nash Rawiller | 1.99L | 11 | 56kg (cd 57kg) | $8 | ||
| 5 | 8 | NASHVILLE JACK | Brad Widdup | Ms Alysha Collett | 2.16L | 2 | 56kg | $8 | ||
| 6 | 11 | STEEL KNIGHT | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Joshua Parr | 2.48L | 1 | 56kg | $11 | ||
| 7 | 17e | MAVNICZS | Sam Shires | Ms Jess Taylor | 5.08L | 8 | 56kg | $151 | ||
| 8 | 12 | TROPIC | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 6.33L | 9 | 56kg | $14 | ||
| 9 | 6 | HILLIER | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Chad Schofield | 6.71L | 3 | 56kg | $20 | ||
| 10 | 15e | PARTY BOSS | Gary Colvin | Blaike McDougall | 7.42L | 10 | 56kg | $201 | ||
| 11 | 18e | TIME FOR SNOW | Anthony Warren | Jean Van Overmeire | 11.83L | 5 | 56kg | $301 | ||
| 19e | NULLARBOR JANE | John Sargent | 0 | |||||||
| 16e | NAPOLEONIC | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 0 | |||||||
| 20e | LADY PANKHURST | John Sargent | 0 | |||||||
| 4 | EXTRACTOR | Michael Freedman | Tommy Berry | 0 | ||||||
| 3 | CONGRESSMAN | Chris Waller | 0 | |||||||
| 2 | BANKNOTE HUSTLER | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 0 | |||||||
| 14 | TUPAKARA | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Andrew Adkins | 0 | ||||||
| 13 | DUSHENKA | Stuart Kendrick | Kyle Wilson-Taylor | 0 | ||||||
| 1 | ALEPPO PINE | James Cummings | Ms Rachel King | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Black Opal Stakes Betting
The latest autumn markets and Black Opal Stakes 2025 betting odds on the Golden Slipper Stakes lead-up this season will be available here at Races.com.au with markets links to Ladbrokes.com.au 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.
2025 Black Opal Stakes Form
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 BLACK OPAL STAKES FORM GUIDE
2025 Black Opal Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Black Opal Stakes 2025 Tips on the Canberra Group 3 this autumn.
- To Win: #11 Steel Knight ($19 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Happy to go out on a limb and suggest Steel Knight from the Neasham/Archibald yard can give this Canberra Group 3 juvenile’s race a shake-up at close to $20 at time of publish. The well-bred son of Capitalist is a colt coming into his fourth start who has experience at the track. Two back he broke his maiden status here over 1000m with 58kg by a good margin. Last start ran second at the same course and distance under a length beaten in the Opal Preview behind Farcited who is now favourite. The bookies are suggesting that colt wins again, but like this one being well versed here at the price. Forgivable last start from wide out, gets a better run from gate three on Sunday. Josh Parr comes aboard and think the 1200m will suit. Can surprise.
2025 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 2025 Black Opal Stakes field and barriers are set for release on the Wednesday of race week and will be published below in full.
The Black Opal Stakes 2025 final field features a bumper field of potential Slipper hopes led in betting by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott’s Opal Preview winning Farnan colt Farcited having his second start now.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1×5 | ALEPPO PINE | James Cummings | Ms Rachel King | 2 | 57kg | ||
| 2 | 6 | BANKNOTE HUSTLER | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | (late alt) | 19 | 56kg | ||
| 3 | 3 | CONGRESSMAN | Chris Waller | 17 | 56kg | |||
| 4 | 3×30 | EXTRACTOR | Michael Freedman | Tommy Berry | 15 | 56kg | ||
| 5 | 1 | FARCITED | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 9 | 56kg | ||
| 6 | 268 | HILLIER | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Chad Schofield | 5 | 56kg | ||
| 7 | 1 | KING OF POP | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Zac Lloyd | 6 | 56kg | ||
| 8 | 4 | NASHVILLE JACK | Brad Widdup | Ms Alysha Collett | 4 | 56kg | ||
| 9 | 35 | NORDIC VIKING | John Sargent | Nash Rawiller | 16 | 56kg | ||
| 10 | 35 | SANCTIFIED (NZ) | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tyler Schiller | 10 | 56kg | ||
| 11 | 912 | STEEL KNIGHT | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Joshua Parr | 3 | 56kg | ||
| 12 | 77 | TROPIC | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 12 | 56kg | ||
| 13 | 1 | DUSHENKA | Stuart Kendrick | Kyle Wilson-Taylor | 8 | 54kg | ||
| 14 | 47x | TUPAKARA | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Andrew Adkins | 13 | 54kg | ||
| 15e | 536 | PARTY BOSS | Gary Colvin | Blaike McDougall | 14 | 56kg | ||
| 16e | 6 | NAPOLEONIC | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 20 | 56kg | |||
| 17e | 5 | MAVNICZS | Sam Shires | Ms Jess Taylor | 11 | 56kg | ||
| 18e | 7 | TIME FOR SNOW | Anthony Warren | 7 | 56kg | |||
| 19e | NULLARBOR JANE | John Sargent | 1 | 54kg | ||||
| 20e | LADY PANKHURST | John Sargent | 18 | 54kg |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Black Opal Stakes Nominations
The early Black Opal Stakes 2025 nominations are out on the Monday of race week.
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 1.09.13 was set in 2025 by King Of Pop.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Black Opal Stakes |
1st | King Of Pop | 1 minute 09.13 seconds |
| 2nd | Farcited | ||
| 3rd | Sanctified | ||
| 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 | ||
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