A HOME TOWN WIN FOR MAGIC TIME IN THE BLACK OPAL

By Graham Potter | Monday, March 9, 2026

Music Time claimed a home-town victory in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes in Canberra when he put in a strong shift at both ends of the race to close out the contest with 1.872 lengths in hand.

The pressure went on right from the jump with five horses landing in the leading line, all keen to claim a prominent position early, but when they sorted themselves out it was Bar Jester ($11) and the $4 second favourite Music Time who claimed the advantage, racing away alongside each other at the head of affairs, quickly opening up a three length gap back to the chasing pack.

These two locally trained runners were still matching strides with that healthy advantage turning for home … and that scenario remained in play all the way to the 200m mark where Music Time initially inched ahead of Bar Jester, before kicking away decisively from his long-time rival and maintaining a strong effort all of the way to the line, doing more than enough to hold off the big stable swoopers, the Peter Snowden trained Pearl Of Dubai ($4.20) and the Ciaron Maher trained Threads ($9), by 1.72 and 2,35 lengths respectively.

Bar Jester finished fourth.

It was a second Black Opal winner for trainer Graz Vella … who previously took out the race with You’re Canny in 2011 … and a first Black Opal and a first Group race win for an elated jockey Pierre Boudvillain, who showed his delight with a huge celebration in the saddle as Music Time crossed the line.

“He is an impressive horse,” said Boudvillain.

“I was just going to be positive and see how we go. He jumped quick … mustered really fast and crossed them with ease.

“I thought I was going a bit too strong, but I thought I would just trust him and go with the flow. At the top of the straight he was going easy … and he just kept going. He is such a rocket!”

Trainer Graz Vella also could not have been happier with Music Time’s performance which improved the son of All Too Hard’s race record to three wins and one second place finish from only four starts … the three wins coming in his last three starts.

“From day one he showed me that we could be competitive in a Black Opal,” said Vella, “and have a look what he did today. That was so beautiful.

“He did it hard. I didn’t expect him to go forward like that … but the way he finished. It’s unreal.

“His nickname is Rocket. He showed me so much, I said I’m going to call him Rocket because he has got some rocket about him … and, you know, that’s why we are here.”

Vella was not harbouring any thought of a tilt at the Golden slipper post-race.

“What I’m going to do is … I’m going to be fair to him,” said Vella.

“He’s going out for a spell now … to get him matured … and hopefully when he comes back we can go on to bigger and better things.”

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