Opal Ridge Back to Best in Ortensia Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday May 18

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.

A salute from Tommy Berry (image Scone Race Club)

Ridden by Tommy Berry for Luke Pepper, the 4-year-old daughter of Rubick launched down the centre of the track off a wide run to defeat Quick Tempo by one and a quarter lengths to give Swettenham Stud’s Rubick the quinella.

Advertisement

The favourite Iowna Merc (Winning Rupert) came from the tail of the field to run third.

A $20,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Carramar Park draft, Opal Ridge advances her record to seven wins and four seconds 17 starts with earnings of $1,269,350.

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.

Happy days (image scone Race Club)

Chadana was on-sold by Carramar Park for $12,000 through Inglis Digital in 2021 to Queensland-based Fig Tree Farm, and she will go through the ring again at the National Broodmare Sale carrying a positive test to Stronger (lot703).

Luke Pepper shelled out $80,000 for Chadana’s Headwter colt consigned by Fig Tree Farm to the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling sale and has been named Platinum Ridge.

Advertisment

Race Result - Emirates Park Ortensia Stakes LR 1100m

Scone Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:03.74
1
Opal Ridge
- 4m Rubick (AUS) x Chadana (AUS) (Myboycharlie (IRE))
Tnr: Luke Pepper Rdr: Tommy Berry 55.5
2
0.7
Quick Tempo
- 5g Rubick (AUS) x Tawfiq Valley (AUS) (Purrealist (AUS))
Tnr: M S Minervini Rdr: Ms M Weir 53
3
0.9
Iowna Merc
- 4g Winning Rupert (AUS) x Mercedes (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 53
4
1
Cavalier Charles
- 7g Denman (AUS) x Offer It Up (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: J Ford 53
5
1
With Your Blessing
- 5g Vadamos (FR) x Super Trouper (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54
6
1.6
Hard To Say
- 4g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Malasun (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: J C Deamer Rdr: Ashley Morgan 56.5
7
1.7
Insurrection
- 4g Russian Revolution (AUS) x Marple Miss (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Zac Lloyd 60
8
3.9
Le Melody
- 5m Your Song (AUS) x Le Sillage (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: S C Jones Rdr: A Gibbons 54
9
4
Mabel
- 5m Dream Ahead (USA) x My Girl Tess (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: T J Bartley Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 54
10
6
Special Reward
- 8g Demerit (AUS) x Special Kiseki (AUS) (Special Bond (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: A Bullock 59.5
More Reading...
One To Watch - Eagle Farm
With the recent announcement that Yes Yes Yes will stand at Gooree Park Stud this spring, the Everest hero has had a steady flow of winners with today’s Eagle Farm success story being a half-brother to Group 1 winner Uncommon James.
High Hopes for Unbeaten Justify Filly
The Emirates Park colours were carried to victory at Canterbury on Wednesday by exciting three year-old Justify (USA) filly Amreekiyah, who produced a dazzling finishing burst to keep her unbeaten record intact.
Champion 2YO Velocious Sale Details
Group One winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) is about to be offered for auction in the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale and the promo videos are out along with inspection details.
Too Darn Promising
If there is one thing we have learned about the progeny of Too Darn Hot (GB) this season it is that they train on and whatever his progeny show at two they invariably improve on at three so with that thinking in mind we’ve gone looking for a few spring contenders starting with the obvious.
Flying Artie 2YO Quinella at Canterbury
Trial watchers were all over the Chris Waller trained Flying Artie colt Skyglider at Canterbury on Wednesday and he duly made a winning debut leading home a trifecta for his trainer and a quinella for his Blue Gum Farm based sire.
2YO Looking Replicate Family Stakes Success
Tony Furness will head to Otaki with family history on his side when he tackles the Listed Phils Electrical and Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) with his promising juvenile Reconvene on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 23
Here is the full list of 40 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.
Havana Grey Sireline Strikes with New Stakes-Winner
Small in stature, Havana Grey is one of Europe’s hottest and most interesting sires and Australian breeders should probably learn a bit more about him given his Champion 2YO Colt Vandeek (GB) is shuttling to Arrowfield Stud this spring.
Second Winner For Hanseatic’s Tiz Worthy
Having the honour of becoming the first winner for the Rosemont Stud-based Hanseatic when recording victory back in December, Tiz Worthy’s win on the Sandown Hillside course on Wednesday saw the filly become the first dual winner for her sire.