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.

Advertisement

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.

Pepper 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...
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Sword Poised to Strike
When the first crop yearlings by a young stallion are well received and go into the right stables that’s always a good sign and then a few months after that is when things start to get really interesting.
G1 Winning Champion 2YO Velocious to be Offered on Inglis Digital
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) will be offered for auction in the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale.
Lisa Kennedy Recognized for Thoroughbred Welfare
Lisa Kennedy has always had a passion for thoroughbreds, and her efforts in guiding retired racehorses into new careers through EventStars were celebrated at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards last Sunday as the winner of the Care and Welfare Excellence Award.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 2
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.