Snowden-trained Barbaric wins Black Opal Stakes in dramatic fashion

He knew regardless of what happened, he had won the $250,000 race.

Snowden's stable snagged first, second and fourth in the Black Opal Stakes (1200 metres) at Thoroughbred Park on Sunday, with Barbaric beating stablemate Bartley by a head.

But before Snowden could celebrate, connections of third-placed Cellsabeel fired in a protest against the winner.

Jockey Tommy Berry claimed there was interference from Barbaric at the 300-metre mark, but the protest was swiftly dismissed.

"It didn't really matter, we were lucky to have made the second horse. It was third against first so we were always going to keep the race somehow," Snowden said.

"I'm happy with the three horses, I was hoping they would run well.

"It would have been great to have had the trifecta but you can't be disappointed getting a winner. It was a good result.

"We can run Barbaric in the Slipper, he's got the prize money to get in now but unfortunately Bartley probably won't get there. I'm sure there'll be a race for him not too far away."

Barbaric, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, surged through the middle on the straight to beat Bartley and favourite Cellsabeel, while stablemate Aftermath finished fourth.

The Black Opal was Barbaric's second victory in three starts, putting him in a prime position for the Golden Slipper.

Queanbeyan's Frank Cleary is the only trainer to have won the Black Opal and Golden Slipper double, claiming both races with Catbird in 1999.

Snowden is confident Barbaric has a chance to become the second two-year-old to claim the double, given the strength of the Black Opal field.

"It'll happen, for sure. The race is getting better and better each year," Snowden said.

"It's only a matter of time before it happens again, but at the moment Frank has the record so we'll leave it with him. He's a local."

The National Sprint (1400 metres) was also won by a Sydney-based horse, with John Thompson-trained Cuba beating Sir Bacchus by half a length.

The five-year-old gelding held back behind Mercurial Lad going into the top of the straight, before surging ahead to narrowly take the win.

Stable manager Danielle Podlewski admits she got a little worried when the horses crept up around the 150-metre mark and says it was a real credit to Cuba winning a tough run home.

"I think it was a very smart ride by jockey Tim Clark to take a sit early on. If he tried to take that horse on he might have undone him early," Podlewski said.

"It was a smart ride, he got him up and going early. He's a horse that needs to work through his gears."