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.

Advertisement

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.
 



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.


 

Visit the profile page for I am Invincible

I am Invincible in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - John McGrath Auto Black Opal Gr3 1200m

Canberra Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:10.21
1
Queen Of The Ball
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Miss Debutante (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: R & M Freedman Rdr: Rachel King 55
I Am Invincible
2
1.3
Warby
- 2c Hellbent (AUS) x Speedboat (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ben Allen 56
Hellbent
3
1.5
Metallicity
- 2c Zoustar (AUS) x Captivating Claire (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tommy Berry 56
Zoustar
4
1.6
Nolan
- 2c Caravaggio (USA) x Don't Blink (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: W Pike 56
5
2.7
Lethal Lady
- 2f Smart Missile (AUS) x Madam Tilly (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: N F Gardner Rdr: Brock Ryan 54
6
3.0
Custodian
- 2c Shalaa (IRE) x Honesty Prevails (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 56
7
3.6
Standing Order
- 2c Merchant Navy (AUS) x Brugal Reward (AUS) (Reward For Effort (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: S Clipperton 56
8
4.1
Troach
- 2f Epaulette (AUS) x Anise (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Tim Clark 54
9
4.4
Invertational
- 2f Invader (AUS) x Penny Fling (AUS) (Lookin At Lucky (USA))
Tnr: M D Kelley Rdr: J Mallyon 54
10
4.9
Great Siege
- 2c Caravaggio (USA) x Kimblewick (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: G Schofield 56
11
5.4
Cool Amigo
- 2c Sebring (AUS) x Mexican Gal (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T R Martin Rdr: J Innes Jnr 56
12
6.5
Fine Vintage
- 2g Supido (AUS) x Winesearch (AUS) (Wanted (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: S Guymer 56
More Reading...
Consistency Key On Day One of 2025 Breeze Ups
After the rescheduling of dates for NZB’s anticipated 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups, Day One kicked off on Monday at Te Rapa Racecourse with consistent times, weather and track conditions.
Foals From Famous Families
There’s now over 400 foals on the Breednet Foal Gallery and it’s easy to spend a bit too much time having a look for whatever might interest us but here’s a few born into famous families that always take the eye.
Sires With Winners - Monday October 20
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Best On Breeding
I Am Invincible and So You Think have broken clear of the pack in the race for champion sire, and both have some serious firepower in the features at Flemington and Rosehill on Saturday.
Vale, Dual Cox Plate Hero So You Think
In Cox Plate week when we remember some of the all time great Cox Plate winners, So You Think is a name that will always come into the conversation with tragic news from Coolmore on Monday announcing his sudden passing. 
Queen of The Ball Wins G3 Scarborough Stakes
A two-time Group winner last season at two, quality I Am Invincible filly Queen of the Ball franked the strong form of the recent Group III ATC Silver Shadow Stakes when scoring a sizzling front running victory in the Group III MVRC Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
2025 G1 Cox Plate Field and Barrier Draw
A field of nine has been finalised for the 2025 Cox Plate with favourite Via Sistina drawing gate seven for Chris Waller and James McDonald, while one three-year-old has accepted to run in Nepotism.
Queen of the Ball Conquers in G3 Furphy Sprint
A multiple Group winner coming to Flemington on Saturday, talented I Am Invincible mare Queen of the Ball had superior form lines coming into the $200,000 Group III VRC Furphy Sprint (1100m) and showed her class to win by a length under Damien Oliver.
Applications Now Open for 2026 Aushorse Graduate Program
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2026 Aushorse Graduate Program.
Delacroix Brings Dubawi Outcross to Coolmore Roster
Blueblood 3YO Dubawi colt Delacroix has been retired and the dual Group I winner will stand at Coolmore in Ireland in 2026.