Leading Sydney trainer Gerald Ryan will begin his assault on back-to-back Black Opal Stakes victories a month out from the richest race on the ACT calendar.
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Ryan will start Thorsborne in a two-year-old handicap (1000 metres) at Thoroughbred Park on Friday, with a win going a long way to securing a place in the $275,000 Black Opal Stakes on March 8.
Ryan will be hoping Thorsborne can repeat the feat of Lucky Raquie, who took out last year's race in front of Mr Cha Cha and Klammer.
The performances of those three and fourth place-getter I Am Snippety during the autumn carnival in Sydney led to the Black Opal Stakes getting upgraded to group 3 status.
Canberra trainer Neil Osborne will split up his two Black Opal Stakes hopefuls. Demand Applause will go up against Thorsborne, while For Me Dad will be scratched so she can run at Dubbo on Sunday.
The Black Opal takes on extra significance this year with the return to group 3 status and the fact it is only a fortnight before the premier two-year-old race in the world, the Golden Slipper.
Osborne originally had six runners in contention for the Black Opal, but that has been whittled down to just two.
"The others are all gone, shin sore or gone sour. It's a pretty tough thing to aim at the one race for the two-year-olds," Osborne said. "I thought I would split them up and give them both a chance. To get into the Opal, both will probably need to win a race, so by splitting them up I'm giving them that opportunity if they're good enough."
For Me Dad was impressive in her only official trial, running home for a strong third despite missing the kick.
The biggest challenge for Demand Applause will be how she handles the distance. "She's given us every indication that she wants the 1200," Osborne said.
"She seems to be running on at the end of her work and at the end of her trial. If she keeps improving like that, she's a chance of getting there."
Meanwhile, Gai Waterhouse will be the guest speaker at the Black Opal Stakes luncheon on Thursday, March 5.
The event will include the launch of the new business social networking club, the Thoroughbred Club – Canberra branch. Tickets to the luncheon are $120 per person.
The first of eight races on Friday is at 1.10pm.
