Black Opal Stakes

Ladbrokes Tip: The best Black Opal Stakes graduates may target the Golden Slipper Stakes in Sydney

The latest edition of the Black Opal Stakes took place on Sunday, March 8, 2026 on Canberra Cup Day in the ACT and was won in a huge late charge by the locally-trained Preview champ Music Time ($4) who secured a hat-trick.

2026 Black Opal Stakes Results

The official 2026 Black Opal Stakes Results & Finishing Order will be published in full below once the Group 3 race for two-year-olds takes place in Canberra on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

It was a big win for the locals in Sunday’s 2026 Black Opal Stakes results with the Gratz Vella-trained Preview winner Music Time ($4) securing his third win on the trot with the All Too Hard gelding given a peach of a ride by Pierre Boudvillain to sit on pace before hitting the front inside the final furlong and draw away before holding off the fast-finishing Pearl Of Dubai to score by 1.72 lengths.

2026 Black Opal Stakes Odds

The autumn’s leading Black Opal Stakes 2026 betting odds will be available below the week of the race complete with links to our markets on the Group 3 Canberra feature followed by the official Black Opal Stakes results after the event, so stay tuned!

Black Opal Stakes Tips

The best Black Opal Stakes tips are to look for a single-figure chance with previous winning form and any two-year-olds with a past Group performance in Sydney on their record. 

2026 Black Opal Stakes Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ insider Black Opal Stakes 2026 betting tips online will be available right here a day or so out from the Canberra autumn showdown so stay tuned for the juveniles to back and sack in the Group 3 this season.

The Black Opal Stakes is an important Group 3 race held at Thoroughbred Park in Canberra on a Sunday in mid-February as a potential lead-up into Sydney’s Group 1 $5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m).

To date, Catbird (1999) is the only runner to complete the Black Opal Stakes – Golden Slipper double.

A 1200m sprint currently offering $200,000 in prize money, the Black Opal Stakes is run at set weights and has been held since 1973.

The event takes place as part of the popular Canberra Cup Carnival in the ACT and is now run on the same day as the Listed Canberra Cup (2000m).

Black Opal Stakes Race Info

• Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026
• Track: Canberra Racecourse
• Distance: 1200m
• Conditions: Set Weights + Penalties – 2YOs
• Status: Group 3
• Prize Money: $200,000
• First Run: 1973

Black Opal Stakes Betting

Black Opal Stakes betting markets are traditionally led by non-maidens with last-start winning two-year-olds from local Sydney stables having a gun record in the juveniles’ feature. 

Autumn Ballet in 2023 is to date the event’s only debutant winner. 

The colts and geldings usually dominate the Black Opal Stakes odds with just five fillies since 1989 having beaten the boys, most recently Pin Sec (2019), Queen Of The Ball (2022), and most recently Autumn Ballet (2023). 

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

Black Opal Stakes Field

The Black Opal Stakes race field attracts a quality line-up of promising young two-year-olds at the start of their careers eyeing a run in the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens. 

Before a change of date, horses in the Black Opal Stakes field the colts and geldings often backed up in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200) and the fillies in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m) on Randwick Guineas Day. 

Criterion (2013) was the last horse to complete the Black Opal – Todman Stakes double. 

In 2024 the Black Opal Stakes winner Holmes A Court had his final lead-up in Melbourne’s Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude C&G when third in that Caulfield event. 

In 2026 the locally-trained Music Time became the latest two-year-old to complete the Black Opal Preview / Black Opal Stakes double.

Black Opal Stakes nominations are taken the Monday before the race with the final field of acceptances and barrier draw released on the Wednesday.

2026 Black Opal Stakes Field

The official Black Opal Stakes 2026 final field and barriers are set for release on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below so bookmark this page to see what two-year-olds are in one of the traditional Golden Slipper lead-up races. 

The Black Opal Stakes 2026 final field features a bumper crop of potential Golden Slipper-bound two-year-olds led in betting by the Preview winner Music Time chasing a hat-trick from a wide gate.

Canberra R7 - John Mcgrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes (G3)

Final Race time: 

	Entrant	Last 6	Sex	Barrier	Weight
	1. Outspan (15)  Scratched:
	2. Bar Jester J: Coriah Keatings T: Nick Olive	12	G	3	56kg
	3. Music Time J: Pierre Boudvillain T: Gratz Vella	211	G	12	56kg
	4. Eviction Notice J: Adam Hyeronimus T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	7x32	C	9	56kg
	5. Confederation (9)  Scratched:
	6. Jimmy's Ready J: Jess Taylor T: Joe Cleary	51	G	1	56kg
	7. Threads J: Chad Schofield T: Ciaron Maher	6	C	5	56kg
	8. Miss Chanel (12)  Scratched:
	9. Pearl Of Dubai J: Andrew Adkins T: Peter Snowden	2x4	F	10	54kg
	10. Farcolo J: Alysha Collett T: Gary Portelli	9x3	F	8	54kg
	11. La Stiava J: Mathew Cahill T: Norm Gardner	624	F	11	54kg
	12. To Dubai We Go J: Ashley Morgan T: Neil Osborne	78x	F	6	54kg
	13. Give Her Strength (8)  Scratched:
	14. Legaselli (7)  Scratched:
	15. Artaneous J: Dylan Gibbons T: Bjorn Baker	6x	C	2	56kg
	16. Strollin' By J: Regan Bayliss T: Gary Portelli	6	F	4	54kg
	17. Boujee Gold J: Jeff Penza T: Matthew Kelley	5	F	13	54kg
	18. Restless Spirit J: Blaike Mcdougall T: Keith Dryden & Libby Snowden	7	G	7	56kg
	19. The Next Episode (11)  Scratched:

View Results

2026 Black Opal Stakes Nominations

The early Black Opal Stakes 2026 nominations are announced on the Monday of race week and will be available below.

Black Opal Stakes Form Guide

The Black Opal Stakes form guide has all of the need-to-know information on the horses in the field including jockeys, trainers, barriers and any lead-up summer / autumn racing form.

While just one runner has won the Black Opal – Golden Slipper double to date the form out of the event has held in the Group 1 classic many times over the years.

Seven Black Opal Stakes winners have gone on to run a place in the Golden Slipper results: Blazing Saddles, Just Blooming, Comely Girl, Clan O’Sullivan, St Covet, Paint and most recently Decision Time who ran second in the Slipper behind Crystal Lily in 2010. 

The Black Opal Stakes form has also been franked in other top grade races many times over the years including in 2017 when the winner Trapeze Artist went on to run third in that year’s ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes. Trapeze Artist also returned to win four subsequent Group 1 races over his career including the 2017 Golden Rose. 

2026 Black Opal Stakes Form Guide

A link to our comprehensive Black Opal Stakes 2026 Form Guide will be provided by punters below the week of the race.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 BLACK OPAL STAKES FORM GUIDE

Past Black Opal Stakes Results

Notable Black Opal Stakes winners throughout history include Spirit Of Kingston (1984), Maizcay (1987), St. Covet (1994), subsequent Golden Slipper winner Catbird (1999), Decision Time (2010), Epaulette (2012), Criterion (2013), and Trapeze Artist (2017). 

King Of Pop sent a new Black Opal Stakes race record winning in 2025 in a time of 1 minute 09.13 seconds. 

Recent Black Opal Stakes Winners

Past Black Opal Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.

Year	Winner	Second	Third
2026	Music Time	Pearl Of Dubai	Threads
2025	King Of Pop	Farcited	Sanctified
2024	Holmes A Court	Fully Lit	Amazing Eagle
2023	Autumn Ballet	The Years	Make A Call
2022	Queen Of The Ball	Warby	Metallicity
2021	Kalashnikov	Solar Winds	Rocket Tiger
2020	Barbaric	Bartley	Cellsabeel
2019	Pin Sec	Rome	Mclaren
2018	Encryption	Sizzling Belle	Bondi
2017	Trapeze Artist	Trekking	Safin
2016	Defcon	Flash Fibian	Prized Icon
2015	Takedown	Single Gaze	Antelucan
2014	Lucky Racquie	Mr Cha Cha	Klammer
2013	Criterion	Sidestep	Meticulously
2012	Epaulette	Faustus	Later Gator
2011	You’re Canny	Karuta Queen	Bright Heart
2010	Decision Time	Lohan	Butt I’m Ready
2009	Delago Bolt	Phenomenal Lass	Zikmann
2008	Sarthemare	Typhoon Fury	De Lightning Ridge
2007 Race Not Held	–	–	–
2006	Down The Wicket	One Time	Luvuleo
2005	Al Samer	Another TIme	Jet Spur
2004	Uber	St Pirian	Just As Beautiful
2003	Handsome Ransom	Exceed And Excel	Sansadee
2002	Planchet	Mukareena	Majorette
2001	Coral Salute	Antagonise	Finbarr
2000	Pembleton	Donna Dior	Royal Joke

FAQ

Who won the 2026 Black Opal Stakes?

The 2026 Black Opal Stakes was won by the locally-trained Preview winning two-year-old All Too Hard gelding Music Time at $4 for trainer Graz Vella with jockey Pierre Boudvillain aboard on 56kg from barrier 12 to salute by 1.72 lengths on a Soft (7) track in a time of 1:10.71.

Who won the 2025 Black Opal Stakes?

The 2025 Black Opal Stakes was won by King Of Pop at $3.90 for trainers Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou with jockey Zac Lloyd aboard on 56kg from barrier 4 to win by 0.29 lengths in a race record time of 1:09.13.

When is the Black Opal Stakes 2026?

Sunday, March 8, 2026

What is the prize money for the Black Opal Stakes 2026?

$200,000

Where is the Black Opal Stakes 2026?

Canberra Racecourse, Randwick Road, Lyneham, ACT 2602.

How do I bet on the 2026 Black Opal Stakes?

Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at ladbrokes.com.au. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.

Which horse will win the 2026 Black Opal Stakes?

The best way to pick which horse will win the Black Opal Stakes is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.