Blue Diamond Winning Team Look to Add a Black Opal to Match
A fantastic list of nominations has been assembled for both main features of the Canberra Carnival, the Group 3 John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes and the Listed TAB Canberra Cup. “The Club is thrilled with the quality and quantity of the 289 nominations we have received across the two days of the Canberra Carnival.” Canberra Racing Club CEO Andrew Clark stated.
“The eight leading trainers on the NSW Metro premiership table all have nominations on both days of the Carnival, as do the ten leading Trainers on the ACT premiership table which is testament to the two quality days of racing ahead in Canberra.”
A number of superstars on a Golden Slipper path have put their names forward for the $250,000 John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes including Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa. Co-Trainer Trent Busuttin said “Plan A is to race him at Sydney, but if Randwick is bottomless, he’s a chance to come to Canberra."
Busuttin and co-Trainer Natalie Young have indicated that stablemate Obligatory will most likely contest Canberra’s premier race. “He’s only had one soft run, he’ll race around at big odds and go well, we wouldn’t bring him up if we didn’t think he’d go well.” Busuttin said.
Cessabeel, the once Slipper favourite may be ready to bounce back after pulling up 2/5 lame in the Group 2 Silver Slipper and has been installed as $3.50 favourite with TAB. The filly is one of five Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained nominations amongst the 33 total. Other notable nominations for the Maher Eustace team include Group 3 winner Prague and the Blue Diamond Prelude placed Muntaseera.
Conversely to last year, Godolphin have just two nominations in Gravina and Tamerlane while team Snowden have five quality hopes in Aftermath, Argenteus, Barbaric, Bartley and Blaze a Trail.
The $50,000 increase in prizemoney has also attracted world-class quality to the $250,000 Listed TAB Canberra Cup. Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner, Youngstar is amongst the Chris Waller trained group that includes Shared Ambition (IRE), Valcluse Bay and Wu Gok.
The Kris Lees and Australian Bloodstock combination have a number of high-quality imports such as Attention Run (GER), Mr Garcia (GB) and Mugatoo (IRE) who remains unbeaten on Australian soil. Mugatoo (IRE) is the early favourite with TAB at $2.80.
Nick Olive’s Maid of Ore looks the most likely of the local contingent to knock off the big metropolitan stables.
The John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes is Race 7 on Sunday, 8th March, due to jump at 5:10pm. The TAB Canberra Cup, due to run at 5:15pm on Monday, 9th March, is Race 7 on the program.
Full list of TAB Canberra Cup and John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes nominations:
John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes
|
|
Horse |
Trainer |
|
1 |
Aftermath |
Peter & Paul Snowden |
|
2 |
Argenteus |
Peter & Paul Snowden |
|
3 |
Barbaric |
Peter & Paul Snowden |
|
4 |
Bartley |
Peter & Paul Snowden |
|
5 |
Blaze A Trail |
Peter & Paul Snowden |
|
6 |
Cellsabeel |
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
|
7 |
Doubtland |
Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
|
8 |
Fall On A Star |
Kris Lees |
|
9 |
Global Quest |
Chris Waller |
|
10 |
Gravina |
James Cummings |
|
11 |
Holyfield |
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
|
12 |
Kaakit Akit |
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
|
13 |
Kumasi |
Gerald Ryan |
|
14 |
Lady Of Luxury |
Bjorn Baker |
|
15 |
Larimer Street |
Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
|
16 |
Little Krakatoa |
Joe Cleary |
|
17 |
Miss Canada |
Kris Lees |
|
18 |
Mr Maharaj |
Todd Smart |
|
19 |
Muntaseera |
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
|
20 |
Obligatory |
Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
|
21 |
Ole Kirk |
Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
|
22 |
On The Lead |
Richard & Michael Freedman |
|
23 |
Osamu |
Chris Waller |
|
24 |
Prague |
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
|
25 |
Rathlin |
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
|
26 |
Return With Honour |
Gerald Ryan |
|
27 |
See You Soon |
Jean Dubois |
|
28 |
Sidearm |
John O'Shea |
|
29 |
Spicy Restaurant |
Danielle Seib |
|
30 |
Tagaloa |
Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
|
31 |
Tamerlane |
James Cummings |
TAB Canberra Cup
|
|
Horse |
Trainer |
|
1 |
Attention Run (GER) |
Kris Lees |
|
2 |
Cinquedea (NZ) |
Richard & Michael Freedman |
|
3 |
Danzdanzdance |
Chris Waller |
|
4 |
Eastender |
Chris Waller |
|
5 |
Esti Feny (HUN) |
Matthew Smith |
|
6 |
Fun Fact |
Bjorn Baker |
|
7 |
Great Glen (GB) |
Todd Smart |
|
8 |
Maid of Ore |
Nick Olive |
|
9 |
Mercurial Lad |
Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones |
|
10 |
Mr Garcia (GB) |
Kris Lees |
|
11 |
Mugatoo (IRE) |
Kris Lees |
|
12 |
Mushaireb (GB) |
Richard & Michael Freedman |
|
13 |
Newtown Bluebag |
Emma & Lucy Longmire |
|
14 |
Norway (IRE) |
Chris Waller |
|
15 |
Primitivo |
John Thompson |
|
16 |
Shared Ambition (IRE) |
Chris Waller |
|
17 |
Sir Plush (NZ) |
Bjorn Baker |
|
18 |
Spunlago |
Ron Stubbs |
|
19 |
Supernova (GB) |
Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
|
20 |
Sweet Thomas (GER) |
Matthew Smith |
|
21 |
Think It Over |
Kerry Parker |
|
22 |
Valentino Rossa |
Jason Coyle |
|
23 |
Vaucluse Bay |
Chris Waller |
|
24 |
Wu Gok |
Chris Waller |
|
25 |
Youngstar |
Chris Waller |