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Nominations for the two-dayCanberra Racing Carnival have been released with 31 two-year-olds in contention for the Group 3 John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes (1200m) inwhat isthe50thAnniversary of the raceon Sunday, 12 March 2023.
A huge 269 nominations were receivedfor the 17 races across the Carnival where nearly $1.2m inprizemoney willbe won.
Canberra Racing Club ChiefExecutive Darren Pearceisexcited bythe nominations across both days.
"The quantity and quality of the nominations is very pleasingwith the 50thAnniversary of the Black Opal Stakes shaping as aparticularlyspecial event."
"We've attracted to Blue Diamond favouriteand a number of seriously talented two-year-olds that I can see competing forGroup One glory over the Autumn and beyond."
"It's certainly shaping asa field worthy of the celebrations surrounding the 50thAnniversary of our greatest race.
"Canberra's premier race has attracted nominations fromleading Sydneystables withGai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Peter & Paul Snowden, Chris Waller, James Cummings, Annabel Neasham, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Bjorn Baker, Gerald Ryan &SterlingAlexiou, Team Hawkes, Gary Portelliand MichaelFreedman all represented.
The Sydney brigadefeatures anumber of exciting talents includingSteel City(Maher & Eustace), theBlue Diamondpre-race favouriteand Introducing (Waterhouse and Bott)who areboth in the market for Golden Slipper at $21 with TAB.
The ETSRefrigerationBlack Opal Preview(1000m)winner Legolas(Baker)looks likely to return to the Nation's Capital after a narrow victory a fortnight ago aheadof Allaboutella(Michael Freedman),who joins him in the nominations for the BlackOpal Stakes.
For the local's, Todd Smart's Love Shuckhas been nominated for his home featureafter a comfortable maiden victory at Albury while Gratz Vella's Chop The Icehas been a picture of consistency in his three race starts to date.Norm Gardner's Miss Ghentrounds out the trio of locals looking to become the first locally prepared horse to win the Black Opal Stakessince Gratz Vella's You're Cannyin 2011.
John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes nominations.
Day Two of the Carnival, 13 March 2023, is highlighted by the Listed TAB Canberra Cup (2000m) with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott's Sacramento on track for another berth after winning the race in 2022.
Sacramentois one of 14 nominations forTAB Canberra Cup with John O'Shea, Kris Lees, JohnSargent, Jason Coyle, Matthew Smith, Team Hawkes, Bjorn BakerandCiaron Maher & David Eustace, all entering talented gallopers.
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace look to hold a strong hand across both days of the Carnival and have nominated the triple-Derby winner Explosive Jackand French import Normandy Bridge(FR).
TAB Canberra Cup nominations.
Acceptances for both daysof the Canberra Racing Carnival are onThursday,9 March with the live barrier draw for the John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes & TAB Canberra Cupheld from12pm that day intheCity Centre, adjacent to the Canberra Carousel.
