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.
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.
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.
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.
