Victorian trainer Ciaron Maher has never been to Canberra and he thinks he's never had a runner there either.
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But finally he has the right horse and Thoroughbred Park has the right race.
It seems the bookies agree with him too - his three-year-old colt Yulong January is the $3.50 favourite for the listed Canberra Guineas (1400 metres) on Sunday.
Not a bad way to start for Maher, who was looking forward to his first trip to the capital.
"I know I've never been there and I'm pretty sure I've never raced a horse there. It's the capital so it'd be good to get there," he said.
"Nothing really attracted me before I suppose and this was just the right race and we're all about placing our horses wherever it may be - Sydney, Victoria, Queensland - and this race we just thought was a good fit for this horse and where he's at.
"Looking forward to it because I've never been there and it would be good to get to the capital.
It's also the first time Chinese billionaire Zhang Yuesheng has had a runner in Canberra.
He's got more than 200 horses racing world wide and was the second leading buyer at the Melbourne Premier Sale.
Zhang was at Flemington on Saturday and was likely to watch the Guineas from his stud in Nagambie.
Each of his stallions have Yulong in their name, with Yulong January second-up coming to Canberra.
The son of King Of Prussia finished third in the group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last start, while also boasts a second in the listed Gothic Stakes (1400m) last preparation.
"He's a quality horse. In his first prep he did a great job. His return run was really good, he didn't get a lot of luck and he closed off really well," Maher said.
"He was a bit big in condition and he's tightened up a bit with that run and he's going really well.
"I'm confident he's improved off his last start and that was quite a good run."
Yulong January has drawn barrier 8 and has star jockey Hugh Bowman on board.
Maher and training partner David Eustace also had Etana ($9) accepted in the Guineas, but she ran in the group 2 Kewney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday instead.
Mark Newnham's Final Award ($4) is on the second line of betting, while Gerald Ryan's Coterie ($4.80) and Laburnum ($8.50) were next best.
BLACK OPAL STAKES DAY
Sunday: Gates open 11.30am with the first race at 1pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
