2021 Black Opal Stakes tips & best odds | Canberra race 7
| What | 2021 Black Opal Stakes |
| Where | Thoroughbred Park – 1 Randwick Rd, Lyneham ACT 2602 |
| When | Sunday, March 7, 2021 | 5:10pm AEDT | Race 7 |
| Prizemoney | $250,000 |
| Distance | 1200m |
| Status | Group 3 |
| Race Conditions | Set Weights plus Penalties, Two-Years-Old |
| 2020 Winner | Barbaric – 56kg (3) | Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy | Trainer: Peter & Paul Snowden |
| Watch Live | |
Black Opal betting preview
A quality field of fourteen two-year-olds are set to take their place in Sunday’s Group 3 Black Opal at Canberra. Remarque is the $2.20 favourite, but he could start in Saturday’s Todman Stakes. Unbeaten Canberra-trained filly Pretty Woman is the $5.50 second elect but is set to take her place in the Reisling Stakes on Saturday too, so the market could be flipped on its head completely. The speed looks to come from Rocket Tiger and Bourbon Flyer, while Glistening and Bacchanalia will also go forward.
In what is a tricky race to really have a strong opinion on before scratchings, it’s hard to ignore the obvious in the market. ,Remarque is a clear top pick and we expect him to start well into odds on should he bypass the Todman Stakes. Drawn barrier two, he would settle two or three pairs back in behind a hot speed and should prove far too good. He needs the prizemoney to elevate his position in the Golden Slipper Order of Entry, so the $150,000 first prizemoney could be more enticing in what looks an easy kill. If he starts, he wins.
Rocket Tiger is who we will be backing if Remarque doesn’t start. The son of Cluster won his first two races and then was only narrowly beaten in the Silver Slipper by Home Affairs. He chased hard that day over 1100m, so should appreciate the rise to 1200m for the first time. He won his maiden comfortably at this track on debut, and has drawn the one alley under regular rider Kathy O’Hara so should be able to lead and dictate. Even with Remarque starting in this field, he is the only other winning chance.
Solar Winds is yet to have a jockey listed to ride, and he holds an acceptance in the Todman Stakes, but we have an inkling that his stablemate Remarque will go to the Todman and Tommy Berry will ride Solar Winds in this. The Zoustar colt has had the one trial where he won nicely at Canterbury over 900m and he was a $900k purchase, so he obviously has a wrap surrounding his name. He accelerated nicely in the trial, and while the time was far from lickety split, he did what he had to do. He could get a nice run from barrier five and might be able to run a drum.
2021 Black Opal Stakes betting strategy
| $100 betting strategy | |
|---|---|
| $100 win: | #1 Rocket Tigers |
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