3 minute read
Group 1 placegetter Karuta Queen is the unlikely culprit preventing Canberra’s iconic Black Opal Stakes from an upgrade to Group status.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The 2011 renewal of the Opal, in which raging favourite Karuta Queen ran second to local galloper You’re Canny, is the one blight on the strength of the race over the last four years.
Karuta Queen’s presence in the race drove off the competition that year and her $1.20 quote suggested she was unbeatable.
But the Magic Millions winner wasn’t fully fit, and pulled up lame after her first race defeat. You’re Canny’s win was subsequently rated one of the lowest in recent history.
In 2010 the race was won by Decision Time, who went on to run second in the Golden Slipper.
The 2012 winner Epaulette won last year’s Group 1 Golden Rose over the spring, while this year’s quinella in Criterion and Sidestep ran sixth and second respectively in the Golden Slipper on Saturday.
Karuta Queen has also gone on from the Opal, winning twice since in Listed and Group grade, and running second behind Black Caviar last month in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes.
Somewhat ironically though, that lame performance in the 2011 Opal has had a lingering effect on the race.
"For a race to have its status upgraded normally you must achieve Group 3 ranking over three consecutive years, unfortunately we haven't achieved that," Stubbs said.
"The year You're Canny defeated Karuta Queen the race didn't receive a Group 3 ranking.
"Karuta Queen has definitely gone on to strengthen the form out of the race, I'm not saying it would have but it might have been a different outcome if she had in fact won the race.
"She has certainly gone to perform well at a Group and Listed level following the race, the facts are that You're Canny did not."
The Capital’s richest race was downgraded to Listed level in 2006 but has rebuilt itself as a key fixture on the Autumn juvenile calendar over the past four years.
Stubbs hoped the race would be upgraded by 2015.
"With both Criterion and Sidestep winning at Group 2 level subsequent to the Black Opal and then of course Sidestep going on to finish second in the Golden Slipper and Criterion running a nice race to finish sixth, this year's edition of the feature race should comfortably receive Group 3 ranking so we'll definitely by putting in submission for an upgrade," Stubbs said.
"It's more realistic that the race will be upgraded in 2015.
"Providing we hold the same level next year I will be very confident they we would see the race upgraded for 2015."
