Black Opal Stakes
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. Total prize money for the race is A$200,000.
History
In the Beginning
Brian Connell, while on a prospecting holiday found a chip of opal and thought, 'black opal', what a great name for a race. He raised the idea for the establishment of Canberra's premier race to the committee of the Canberra Racing Club, on June 5, 1972, and Connell moved that the club conduct a classic event for two-year-olds in the 1973-74 season. The groundwork for the start of the race was made with a sub-committee comprising Connell, vice-president Geoff Small and Jim O'Sullivan.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 is the only two-year-old to have taken out the Black Opal Stakes & Golden Slipper Stakes double since its inception.Race record is held by St Covet in 1994 with the time of 1.09.6.
Winners
- 2023 - Autumn Ballet
- 2022 - Queen Of The Ball
- 2021 - Kalashnikov
- 2020 - Barbaric
- 2019 - Pin Sec
- 2018 - Encryption
- 2017 - Trapeze Artist
- 2016 - Defcon
- 2015 - Takedown
- 2014 - Lucky Raquie
- 2013 - Criterion
- 2012 - Epaulette
- 2011 - You're Canny
- 2010 - Decision Time
- 2009 - Delago Bolt
- 2008 - Sarthemare
- 2007 - †race not held
- 2006 - Down The Wicket
- 2005 - Al Samer
- 2004 - Uber
- 2003 - Handsome Ransom
- 2002 - Planchet
- 2001 - Coral Salute
- 2000 - Pembleton
- 1999 - Catbird
- 1998 - Speed Week
- 1997 - Fraud
- 1996 - Paint
- 1995 - Zadok
- 1994 - St. Covet
- 1993 - Danger
- 1992 - Clan O'Sullivan
- 1991 - Sormani
- 1990 - Unspoken Word
- 1989 - Marks Gain
- 1988 - Comely Girl
- 1987 - Maizcay
- 1986 - Just Blooming
- 1985 - New Atlantis
- 1984 - Spirit Of Kingston
- 1983 - Brummel Who
- 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