Rubick Filly Opal Ridge to Chase Group 1 Glory in Queensland

Mark Smith - Saturday May 13

Scone-based trainer Luke Pepper has set lofty goals for his Rubick filly Opal Ridge after she slammed her elders in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at Scone on Saturday.

Opal Ridge all alone (image Steve Hart)

The only 3yo in the race, Opal Ridge thundered down the centre of the track under Dylan Gibbons to defeat Godolphin’s 5yo stakes-winning gelding Gravina (Sebring) by a widening one and a half lengths. Titanium Power (So You Think) was a half-length back in third.

The $500,000 Tapp Craig (1400m) winner at Randwick last October, Opal Ridge followed that up with a two lengths win in the Listed Darby Monro Stakes at Rosehill on March 18.

A $20,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Carramar Park draft, Opal Ridge advances her record to six wins and two seconds 11 starts with earnings of $648,150.

Pepp

Advertisement
er said the daughter of Rubick will chase Group 1 glory in Queensland.

“She will go to Queensland for the Stradbroke and then the Tatt's Tiara,'' Pepper revealed.

Bred by Wayne and Pauline Alchin, Opal Ridge is the first foal from winning Myboycharlie (IRE) mare Chadana, a half-sister to Group III ATC Adrian Knox Stakes winner Candelara (Real Saga), who was third in the Group I ATC Australian Oaks.

Opal Ridge a $20,000 Inglis Classic yearling

Chadana was on-sold by Carramar Park for $12,000 through Inglis Digital in 2021 to Queensland-based Fig Tree Farm.

Luke Pepper shelled out $80,000 for Chadana’s Headwter colt consigned by Fig Tree Farm to the Magic Millions Yearling sale in January,   

Not served in 2021, Chadana slipped last spring. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Scone Equine Hosp. Luskin Star LR 1300m

Scone Track: Good(4) Time: 1:15.71
1
Opal Ridge
- 3f Rubick (AUS) x Chadana (AUS) (Myboycharlie (IRE))
Tnr: Luke Pepper Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 54
2
1.5
Gravina
- 5g Sebring (AUS) x Metastasio (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Rachel King 57
Sebring
3
2.0
Titanium Power
- 5g So You Think (NZ) x Dalkeith (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: S Clipperton 55.5
So You Think
4
2.6
Tamerlane
- 5g Golden Horn (GB) x Wordcraft (GB) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J R Collett 56.5
5
3.9
Rubamos
- 5g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Oriental Ruby (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Ford 53.5
6
4.0
Purple Sector
- 7g Pins (AUS) x Eden Valley (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: R Dolan 53.5
7
4.1
Waihaha Falls
- 5g Sacred Falls (NZ) x Mink (NZ) (Scaredee Cat (NZ))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: C Schofield 55
8
5.7
Steely
- 6g All Too Hard (AUS) x Quintessential (NZ) (Fast 'N' Famous (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: A Adkins 53.5
9
5.9
Blondeau
- 5g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Bit Of Cheek (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tom Sherry 54.5
10
7.7
Barellan Bandit
- 6g Declaration Of War (USA) x Romance Writer (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: John W Ramsey Rdr: G Buckley 54
11
8.6
Oscar Zulu
- 5g Epaulette (AUS) x Ininthree (NZ) (Generous (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Prebble 58.5
12
8.9
One Aye
- 5m Super One (AUS) x Flying First Class (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: B Joseph & P & M Jones Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 53
More Reading...
Opal Ridge Back to Best in Ortensia Stakes
Opal Ridge, the brilliant winner of the Listed Luskin Star Stakes last year, made it three wins from as many starts at Scone to capture Saturday’s Listed Emirates Park Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone.
Bellatrix Star May Back Up in G1 Champions Sprint
Te Akau and Fortuna Racing’s filly Bellatrix Star proved she is among Australia’s top sprinting three-year-olds last Saturday at Flemington, finishing second in the A$2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Brilliant Return for Opal Ridge
Exciting Rubick filly Opal Ridge was first up form a spell in the Listed ATC Darby Munro Quality (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday and showed her class when steaming home to run straight past the colts and geldings for a stylish victory.
Zoustar 6YO Stepping up to 2000m
Pre-post favourite Habana will head into unfamiliar territory at Ellerslie, but there is confidence in his camp that it will be a smooth transition.
Kiwi Longshot Hope for Cup
Grant Cooksley came tantalisingly close to getting his hands on the Melbourne Cup as a jockey, and he is hoping to rectify that on Tuesday as a trainer when he lines-up Trust In You in the two-mile feature.
Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day
The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.
Rubick Filly Wins $500,000 Tapp Craig
The Randwick meeting on Saturday was cut short due to the dire state of the track with the richest race run carrying no Black Type, but $500,000 in cash with the inaugural ATC Tapp Craig (1400m) won by terrific filly Opal Ridge, who continued the run of success enjoyed by her sire Rubick.
Will it be a fairytale finish for Tasmanian-bred mare The Map?
Fresh from sweeping the sire awards at the 2024 Tasmanian Racing Awards this season, the Armidale Stud team is in line for another significant achievement with The Map (Alpine Eagle x This Moment) flying the flag for resident stallion Alpine Eagle in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5 November.
Te Akau Chasing Another Cup Day Success
Last year’s Melbourne Cup Day concluded in success for Mark Walker in the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), a race he will chase back-to-back crowns in on Tuesday with Kiwi mare Quintessa.