Looking for this year’s Black Opal Stakes betting odds, field and tips? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Black Opal Stakes 2026 Results
The official 2026 Black Opal Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
- #3 Music Time
- #9 Pearl Of Dubai
- #7 Threads
It was a big win for the locals in Sunday’s 2026 Black Opal Stakes results with the Gratz Vella-trained Preview winner Music Time ($4) securing his third win on the trot with the All Too Hard gelding given a peach of a ride by Pierre Boudvillain to sit on pace before hitting the front inside the final furlong and draw away before holding off the fast-finishing Pearl Of Dubai to score by 1.72 lengths.
| 3. Music Time (12) J: Pierre Boudvillain 56kg 211T: Gratz Vella | ||
| 9. Pearl Of Dubai (10) J: Andrew Adkins 54kg 2×4T: Peter Snowden | ||
| 7. Threads (5) J: Chad Schofield 56kg 6T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 2. Bar Jester (3) J: Coriah Keatings 56kg 12T: Nick Olive | ||
| 10. Farcolo (8) J: Alysha Collett 54kg 9×3T: Gary Portelli | ||
| 15. Artaneous (2) J: Dylan Gibbons 56kg 6xT: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 4. Eviction Notice (9) J: Adam Hyeronimus 56kg 7×32T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | ||
| 17. Boujee Gold (13) J: Jeff Penza 54kg 5T: Matthew Kelley | ||
| 18. Restless Spirit (7) J: Blaike Mcdougall 56kg 7T: Keith Dryden & Libby Snowden | ||
| 16. Strollin’ By (4) J: Regan Bayliss 54kg 6T: Gary Portelli | ||
| 12. To Dubai We Go (6) J: Ashley Morgan 54kg 78xT: Neil Osborne | ||
| 11. La Stiava (11) J: Mathew Cahill 54kg 624T: Norm Gardner | ||
| 6. Jimmy’s Ready (1) J: Jess Taylor 56kg 51T: Joe Cleary |
Black Opal Stakes 2026 Tips
Our insider 2026 Black Opal Stakes tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a full betting preview published on the Neds Blog.
| 3. Music Time (12) J: Pierre Boudvillain 56kg 211T: Gratz Vella |
| 2. Bar Jester (3) J: Coriah Keatings 56kg 12T: Nick Olive |
| 10. Farcolo (8) J: Alysha Collett 54kg 9×3T: Gary Portelli |
Run over 1,200 metres every March in Canberra, the Black Opal Stakes is a Group 3 race for two-year-olds offering $200,000 and serving as a potential lead-up into the Group 1 $5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m).
To date Catbird (1999) is the only two-year-old to complete the Black Opal Stakes – Golden Slipper Stakes double.
In 2026, Music Time saluted for the locals becoming the latest two-year-old to do the Black Opal Preview – Black Opal Stakes double.
Black Opal Stakes 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Sunday, March 8, 2026
- Track Location: Canberra Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Right-handed
- Race Distance: 1,200 metres
- Weight Conditions: Set weights (with penalties)
- Qualification: Two-year-olds
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Operator: Canberra Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $200,000
- Inaugural Race: 1973
- 2026 Black Opal Stakes Winner: Music Time
Black Opal Stakes Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Black Opal Stakes, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s Black Opal Stakes |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Black Opal Stakes. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Black Opal Stakes. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Black Opal Stakes, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Black Opal Stakes, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Black Opal Stakes to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Black Opal Stakes to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Black Opal Stakes to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Black Opal Stakes, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on the Black Opal Stakes in 2026
- Login at neds.com.au
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Black Opal Stakes Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Black Opal Stakes in 2026
The best way to pick which horse will win the Black Opal Stakes in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up autumn form, assess the barriers, consider the weight the horse will carry and look at the interstate stables.
- Past Sydney Winner – Juveniles with previous winning form at Sydney’s major tracks Rosehill and Randwick make a good bet in the Black Opal Stakes.
- Snowden Factor – Trainer Peter Snowden has a good record in the Black Opal Stakes with five recent victories most recently Kalashnikov (2021) and Holmes A Court (2024) in partnership with his son Paul.
Black Opal Stakes Favourites 2026
Favourites in Black Opal Stakes 2026 betting include the Preview winning All Too Hard gelding Music Time, Nick Olive’s runner-up in that same key lead-up event Bar Jester, and dual acceptor Eviction Notice who is also still officially in the mix for Saturday’s Todman Stakes in Sydney.
Queen Of The Ball ($2.80 in 2022) was the last Black Opal Stakes favourite to win.
Black Opal Stakes 2026 Field
The official 2026 Black Opal Stakes field of final acceptances is announced the Wednesday leading up to the event and will be published in full below.
The Black Opal Stakes 2026 final field features a bumper crop of potential Golden Slipper-bound two-year-olds led in betting by the Preview winner Music Time chasing a hat-trick from a wide gate.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Outspan (15) Scratched: | |||||
|
2. Bar Jester
J: Coriah Keatings
T: Nick Olive |
12 | G | 3 | 56kg | |
|
3. Music Time
J: Pierre Boudvillain
T: Gratz Vella |
211 | G | 12 | 56kg | |
|
4. Eviction Notice
J: Adam Hyeronimus
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
7x32 | C | 9 | 56kg | |
| 5. Confederation (9) Scratched: | |||||
|
6. Jimmy's Ready
J: Jess Taylor
T: Joe Cleary |
51 | G | 1 | 56kg | |
|
7. Threads
J: Chad Schofield
T: Ciaron Maher |
6 | C | 5 | 56kg | |
| 8. Miss Chanel (12) Scratched: | |||||
|
9. Pearl Of Dubai
J: Andrew Adkins
T: Peter Snowden |
2x4 | F | 10 | 54kg | |
|
10. Farcolo
J: Alysha Collett
T: Gary Portelli |
9x3 | F | 8 | 54kg | |
|
11. La Stiava
J: Mathew Cahill
T: Norm Gardner |
624 | F | 11 | 54kg | |
|
12. To Dubai We Go
J: Ashley Morgan
T: Neil Osborne |
78x | F | 6 | 54kg | |
| 13. Give Her Strength (8) Scratched: | |||||
| 14. Legaselli (7) Scratched: | |||||
|
15. Artaneous
J: Dylan Gibbons
T: Bjorn Baker |
6x | C | 2 | 56kg | |
|
16. Strollin' By
J: Regan Bayliss
T: Gary Portelli |
6 | F | 4 | 54kg | |
|
17. Boujee Gold
J: Jeff Penza
T: Matthew Kelley |
5 | F | 13 | 54kg | |
|
18. Restless Spirit
J: Blaike Mcdougall
T: Keith Dryden & Libby Snowden |
7 | G | 7 | 56kg | |
| 19. The Next Episode (11) Scratched: | |||||
Black Opal Stakes Race Day 2026
2026 Black Opal Stakes race day takes place on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and also features a trio of Listed races headlined by the Canberra Cup.
Black Opal Stakes Barrier Draw 2026
The 2026 Black Opal Stakes barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Black Opal Stakes Field section.
Black Opal Stakes Nominations 2026
2026 Black Opal Stakes nominations close at 11 AM on the Monday of race week.
Black Opal Stakes Weights 2026
Set weights plus penalties apply to this race. The base weight for colts and geldings is 56 kilograms. The base weight for fillies is 54 kilograms. Final weights are announced at 4 PM on the Tuesday of race week with the official 2026 Black Opal Stakes weights on the final acceptors to be published in our above Black Opal Stakes Field section.
2026 Black Opal Stakes Topweight:
- No. 1 Outspan (57kg)
Black Opal Stakes Acceptances 2026
2026 Black Opal Stakes final acceptances must be declared before 9 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Black Opal Stakes Field section.
Black Opal Stakes Jockeys 2026
The final riders must be announced by 12 PM on the Wednesday of race week with the official 2026 Black Opal Stakes jockeys to be published in our above Black Opal Stakes Field section.
Black Opal Stakes Scratchings 2026
2026 Black Opal Stakes scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
- No. 5 Confederation (9)
Black Opal Stakes Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Black Opal Stakes prize purse is worth $200,000 in total, distributed from places first through to eighth plus $2,500 going to the Equine Welfare Fund.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $120,000 |
| 2nd | $40,000 |
| 3rd | $17,500 |
| 4th | $7,500 |
| 5th | $5,000 |
| 6th | $3,000 |
| 7th | $2,500 |
| 8th | $2,500 |
Black Opal Stakes Race Number 2026
The 2026 Black Opal Stakes race number is scheduled as Canberra Race 7 at 4:21pm (AEDT) on Sunday, March 8, 2026. There are nine races in total that day at Canberra Racecourse.
Black Opal Stakes Form Guide 2026
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 Black Opal Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 BLACK OPAL STAKES FORM GUIDE
Black Opal Stakes Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Black Opal Stakes live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing NSW
Black Opal Stakes Winners
Winners of the Black Opal Stakes going back to 1973 are displayed in the table below. To view more details on the past Black Opal Stakes winners and placegetters throughout history click here.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Music Time |
| 2025 | King Of Pop |
| 2024 | Holmes A Court |
| 2023 | Autumn Ballet |
| 2022 | Queen Of The Ball |
| 2021 | Kalashnikov |
| 2020 | Barbaric |
| 2019 | Pin Sec |
| 2018 | Encryption |
| 2017 | Trapeze Artist |
| 2016 | Defcon |
| 2015 | Takedown |
| 2014 | Lucky Raquie |
| 2013 | Criterion |
| 2012 | Epaulette |
| 2011 | You’re Canny |
| 2010 | Decision Time |
| 2009 | Delago Bolt |
| 2008 | Sarthemare |
| 2007 (Race Not Held) | – |
| 2006 | Down The Wicket |
| 2005 | Al Samer |
| 2004 | Uber |
| 2003 | Handsome Ransom |
| 2002 | Planchet |
| 2001 | Coral Salute |
| 2000 | Pembleton |
| 1999 | Catbird |
| 1998 | Speed Week |
| 1997 | Fraud |
| 1996 | Paint |
| 1995 | Zadok |
| 1994 | St. Covet |
| 1993 | Danger |
| 1992 | Clan O’Sullivan |
| 1991 | Sormani |
| 1990 | Unspoken Word |
| 1989 | Marks Gain |
| 1988 | Comely Girl |
| 1987 | Maizcay |
| 1986 | Just Blooming |
| 1985 | New Atlantis |
| 1984 | Spirit Of Kingston |
| 1983 | Brummel Who |
| 1982 | Beans |
| 1981 | Chinese Treasure |
| 1980 | Nasau |
| 1979 | Star Grace |
| 1978 | Gold Mosaic |
| 1977 | Blazing Saddles |
| 1976 | Bianca |
| 1975 | Silver Shadow |
| 1974 | Royal Brittania |
| 1973 | Rich Reward |