Queen of the Ball Wins Black Opal

Tara Madgwick - Sunday March 13

A homebred for Sir Owen Glenn, that was raised at Newgate Farm as is Saturday’s Group III ATC Pago Pago Stakes winner Rise of the Masses, talented I Am Invincible filly Queen Of The Ball now sits in seventh spot on the Order of Entry for the Golden Slipper after winning the Group III Canberra Black Opal Stakes (1200m) on Sunday.

Queen of the Ball is into the Golden Slipper! - image Steve Hart

She jumped fast from the outside gate in the field of 12 and surged to the lead for Rachel King, kicking strongly down the running to win by a length and a quarter over impressive first starter Warby.

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the son of Hellbent charged to line from back in the field and holds an entry for the Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes as does third place-getter Metallicity, a son of Zoustar.


Already a stakes-winner having won the Group III ATC Widden Stakes back in January, the Richard and Michael Freedman trained Queen of the Ball has the overall record of two wins and a second from four starts with prizemoney in excess of $240,000.
 

 



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Queen of the Ball is the first foal from stakes-winning Fastnet Rock mare Miss Debutante, who was also raced by Go Bloodstock and was bought as a yearling from the Kia Ora draft at Inglis Easter in 2015 for $430,000.

Miss Debutante is from imported Group II winning More Than Ready mare More than Real (USA), whose dam and grand-dam are also stakes-winners, so Queen of the Ball has a Black Type direct female lineage to be proud of.

Miss Debutante has a yearling filly by Zoustar that was sold by Newgate at Magic Millions for $600,000 to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds, a weanling filly by Written Tycoon and was served last spring by Flying Artie.


 

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Race Result - John McGrath Auto Black Opal Gr3 1200m

Canberra Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:10.21
1
Queen Of The Ball
T: R & M Freedman J: Rachel King 55
2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Miss Debutante (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
2
1.3
Warby
T: C Maher & D Eustace J: Ben Allen 56
2c Hellbent (AUS) x Speedboat (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
3
1.5
Metallicity
T: P & P Snowden J: Tommy Berry 56
2c Zoustar (AUS) x Captivating Claire (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
4
1.6
Nolan
T: J A O'Shea J: W Pike 56
2c Caravaggio (USA) x Don't Blink (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
5
2.7
Lethal Lady
T: N F Gardner J: Brock Ryan 54
2f Smart Missile (AUS) x Madam Tilly (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
6
3.0
Custodian
T: A & S Freedman J: M Zahra 56
2c Shalaa (IRE) x Honesty Prevails (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
7
3.6
Standing Order
T: P & P Snowden J: S Clipperton 56
2c Merchant Navy (AUS) x Brugal Reward (AUS) (Reward For Effort (AUS))
8
4.1
Troach
T: James Cummings J: Tim Clark 54
2f Epaulette (AUS) x Anise (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
9
4.4
Invertational
T: M D Kelley J: J Mallyon 54
2f Invader (AUS) x Penny Fling (AUS) (Lookin At Lucky (USA))
10
4.9
Great Siege
T: A J Cummings J: G Schofield 56
2c Caravaggio (USA) x Kimblewick (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
11
5.4
Cool Amigo
T: T R Martin J: J Innes Jnr 56
2c Sebring (AUS) x Mexican Gal (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
12
6.5
Fine Vintage
T: G Portelli J: S Guymer 56
2g Supido (AUS) x Winesearch (AUS) (Wanted (AUS))
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale $0
V:Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, Longwood East
B: Passed in - $ 80,000
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