Could it be Time again for Gratz Vella?

They put a space on their rivals when finishing 1st and 2nd in the ETS Refrigeration Black Opal Preview (1000m), and Music Time for Gratz Vella and Bar Jester for Nick Olive will now both look to become the first locally trained horse since You’re Canny in 2011 to win the Group 3 John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes (1200m). 

Music Time got the better of Bar Jester in the official lead up but both stamped themselves as genuine Black Opal contenders, beating a nice field of two-year-olds.

Gratz Vella trained You’re Canny to that famous victory 15 years ago and think’s he has found the horse to win Canberra Racing’s jewel again.

“We’ve got a professional here.” Vella said. “To sit 3-wide like that and still win was something special.”

When asked about how Music Time compares at the same point in their career, Vella said, “You’re Canny was nowhere near him”, which is a significant statement noting that You’re Canny then came out and beat the previously undefeated Karuta Queen who had won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic the start prior.

Music Time’s win was ultra impressive to the eye, and the data via Vince Accardi’s Daily Sectionals backs it up.

“He (Music Time) was about 2 lengths off the winner of the Blue Diamond.” Accardi said. 

“He was only about 2 or 3 lengths off the best performed two-year-old in Australia this season and the way he’s been closing off he could easily elevate to that level.”  

“There is a big possibility Bar Jester will improve to a new peak in his next start too.”

A stalwart of racing in the Nation’s Capital, Vella is understandably excited about having such a serious contender in the Black Opal Stakes.

“Look. To describe the feeling of winning it again would be impossible.” Vella said.

“I was here for the first Black Opal Stakes (back in 1973) and led a horse around for my boss that ran 4th.”

“From that day I said, ‘I’m going to win a Black Opal’. And I have.”

“I have also gone close to winning it another two times for the Corkhill family, who own Music Time so it would be special to win it with them.”

The John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes is on Sunday, 8 March 2026 and is joined by the Centenary TAB Canberra Cup, Seears Workwear National Sprint and the Tooheys Canberra Guineas on a blockbuster card. 

Tickets are available via Oztix.