Canberra racing tips & best odds | Black Opal Stakes Day 2024

March 8, 2024 4:18 pm.

Canberra races preview

What	Black Opal Stakes Day
Where	Thoroughbred Park – 1 Randwick Rd, Lyneham ACT 2602
When	Sunday, March 10, 2024
First Race	12:35pm AEDT
Visit Dabble

The two-year-olds take centre stage at Canberra on Sunday afternoon, with the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes (1200m) drawing together a competitive 13-horse field. The undercard oozes quality as well, with the Listed Canberra Cup (2000m) and Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m) making up a quality 10-race program. The rail is out +3m for the entire circuit, and with no rain to hinder proceedings, it should be a Good 4 surface when the first race jumps at 12:35pm AEDT.

Black Opal Stakes Tip: Fully Lit

Fully Lit has a resume which speaks for itself. His latest effort was a gritty romp of the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick on February 10 when caught three wide with no cover. The son of Hellbent has already booked his ticket to the Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m), and there is no reason he can’t win the Black Opal Stakes on his way to possible Group 1 glory.

Black Opal Stakes

Race 7 – #1 Fully Lit (3)

2yo Colt | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Regan Bayliss (58kg)

-200 with Bet365

Canberra Cup Tip: Almania

Almania appears set to peak third-up after a terrific display in the Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on February 24. He hit the front before just being headed in the shadows of the post, and you could throw a blanket over half the field in the concluding stages. The son of Australia usually gets better as the preparation goes on, so with some fitness on his side and a field stacked with dual acceptances, Almania is worth taking on trust in the Canberra Cup.

Canberra Cup

Race 8 – #7 Almania (10)

8yo Gelding | T: Kris Lees | J: Dylan Gibbons (54kg)

+400 with Neds

Canberra Guineas Tip: Xidaki

Xidaki is yet to miss the frame in five starts and was strong through the wire when finally breaking his maiden on the Kensington circuit at Randwick on February 14. The Peter & Paul Snowden barn has taken its time to pick out his next target, and this 1400m feature looks ideal for the son of Zoustar. With a solid speed for Kerrin McEvoy to take a mid-field sit with some cover, watch for this guy to be storming down the centre of the course.

Canberra Guineas

Race 6 – #3 Xidaki (6)

3yo Gelding | T: Peter & Paul Snowden | J: Kerrin McEvoy (57kg)

+450 with Betfair

Best Bet at Canberra: Secret Revolution

Secret Revolution is a genuine 1000m specialist and gets ideal conditions to win again as he did first-up at this track and trip. He bounded away from his rivals by 1.6 lengths on that occasion and has since made a strong account of himself in midweek metro company behind the undefeated Confess Our Dreams on Randwick’s Kensington course on February 14. He looks primed to peak, and with Tom Sherry taking the reins once again, Secret Revolution will be hard to hold out.