Racing

Shinn's Friday on Saturday would be grand

David Polkinghorne Jockey Blake Shinn enjoyed the perfect preparation for one of the biggest days of the Sydney autumn carnival, with four winners from his four rides at Canberra on Friday.

Racing

Punters go for Assail

David Polkinghorne Assail co-owner keeping comeback low key in Saturday's group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes.

Hore racing

Horse trio a coup for Canberra Centenary Cup

David Polkinghorne The Canberra Centenary Cup could overshadow it's younger, flashier sibling, the Black Opal Stakes.

Racing

Snowden back for another crack at Black Opal

David Polkinghorne Peter Snowden has backed Canberra Racing's push to have the listed race reinstated as a group 3.

Black Opal Stakes Day

Cup's in the cabinet, now for ACT's 'Big One'

David Polkinghorne Sydney hoop Corey Brown says every jockey wants to have a Black Opal Stakes victory on their resume.

Black Opal Stakes Day

Photo-finish caused an outcry

David Polkinghorne Paul Walshe still remembers the very first Black Opal Stakes in 1973 - and its earthquake-fuelled controversy.

Racing

Payne's colt fulfils Slipper criteria with Opal win

David Polkinghorne David Payne wants to be the first trainer since Frank Cleary to pull off the Black Opal-Golden Slipper double.

Racing

Black Opal's turn to race - for a status prize

David Polkinghorne After a stunning Super Sunday, Canberra Racing looking to have Black Oval Stakes upgraded.

Racing

Assail up for tilt at Slipper, says Conners

David Polkinghorne Trainer Clarry Conners says Assail is still a chance of jumping in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill in April, but the daughter of Redoute's Choice is no chance of running in next month's...

Racing

Club wants upgrade for Black Opal

David Polkinghorne Attracting another top-notch field for this year's Black Opal will be crucial to the return of group racing to Canberra, says Thoroughbred Park chief executive Peter Stubbs.

Racing

Assail's owners eye Gold Coast riches

David Polkinghorne An already big day just got even bigger for Canberra duo Igor Brkic and Kevin Matthews.

Racing

Belmore Bird soars past rivals to victory

David Polkinghorne With 11 grandchildren to keep happy, Belmore Bird's easy win at Queanbeyan on Wednesday couldn't have come at a better time.

Racing

Layt stakes his claim

David Polkinghorne Canberra trainer Neville Layt is hopeful Red Excitement can help fill the hole left in his stable by Karuta Queen.

Racing

Canberra club backs photo finish process

David Polkinghorne The Canberra Racing Club has backed its finishing-post technology as the best in the country after a dead-heat ruling was overturned by stewards at last Friday's meet.

Ryan pins Opal hopes on Rose

David Polkinghorne Rosehill trainer Gerald Ryan is hopeful Cavalry Rose will deliver his second Black Opal Stakes win to go with the victory of Paint in 1996.

Thoroughbred Park still years away from a group race

David Polkinghorne Thoroughbred Park is at least three years away from having one of its four Super Sunday features upgraded to a group 3 race, with the Canberra Guineas the most likely of the Black Opal Stakes Day...

Racing

Gai's hands-on approach works wonders

David Polkinghorne SYDNEY trainer Gai Waterhouse puts her emergence as the Queen of the two-year-olds down to "pulling her socks up" and having a more "hands on" approach with her young horses.

Racing

Singo seeks a matching Opal

David Polkinghorne CANBERRA's Black Opal Stakes holds a special place in John Singleton's heart.

Racing

Super Sunday to be biggest event in Canberra's racing history

David Polkinghorne IS IT a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Super Sunday, one of the biggest days of racing Canberra has ever seen.