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.
Trained at Scone by Luke Pepper, Opal Ridge has barely put a foot wrong since winning on debut at Canberra in January.
Progressing through the grades since returning from a spell in July, Opal Ridge was second in the Listed ATC Heritage Stakes at her most recent run and then handled the dreadful track and step up to 1400m to win the Tapp Craig by nearly two lengths as a hot favourite.
A modest $20,000 Inglis Classic purchase for R Hunt from the Carramar Park draft, Opal Ridge has been a model of consistency with four wins and two placings from seven starts netting nearly $450,000 in prizemoney.
Bred by Wayne and Pauline Alchin, Opal Ridge looks a future stakes-winner for Rubick and is the first foal from winning Myboycharlie (IRE) mare Chadana, a half-sister to Group III ATC Adrian Knox Stakes winner Candelara, who was also third in the Group I ATC Australian Oaks.
Proving popular at Swettenham Stud this spring, Rubick has three new stakes-winners to his credit this season and two of them, G1 Golden Rose winner Jacquinot and Shades of Rose will run in the Everest next Saturday.
