Black Opal plans for Tash Burleigh filly Princess Spice

The daughter of Sooboog had also been accepted to run at Thoroughbred Park on Friday, but the Sydney-based owners have opted for a metropolitan assignment first-up.

"We'll be throwing her in the deep end that's for sure, I don't know if she'll have her little floaties on," Burleigh said.

"She's a tough little filly but she is very keen, she is only a little thing, she's got a lot of growing to do. It's a work in progress."

Princess Spice, who won a barrier trial at Warwick Farm on November 17, has also been nominated to run in the Golden Slipper, making March's Black Opal an enticing possibility to build the horse's prizemoney.

"The main aim would be to try and get her prizemoney up, at the end of the day the ballot goes on prizemoney," Burleigh said.

"The owners are just desperate to see her, they live in Sydney, they want to get some enjoyment out of her and then they've said I can do what I want.

"The Black Opal will most likely be on the cards to get there, so long as she's sound and pulls up well. She hasn't been shin sore or anything like that yet so we'll just be guided by her."

Princess Spice will be the first offspring to race out of Princess Ailani, who died soon after giving birth to the filly.

Her only other foal was as unraced three-year-old who Burleigh also trains at her Goulburn stable.

"She was bred by the owners, they raced the mother, she has an older brother by Casino Prince, in work as well," Burleigh said.

"Unfortunately the mother died after giving birth to Princess Spice so there's only two little ones out of her, and hopefully they both run along all right.

"They both show a lot of speed, it's promising. The brother's ran third in a trial before so it would be nice for them [the owners].

Burleigh doesn't have any other runners at Canberra on Friday, but will trial unraced three-year-old Rocky Edge at the conclusion of the eight-race program.

The former jockey has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the Goulburn training ranks since training her first winner, Reverance, at Bong Bong four years ago.

Her biggest achievement to date came on November 4 when stable star Al Mah Haha claimed the $200,000 Goulburn Cup (1400m) in a thrilling duel with John Thompson's Chat.

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Al Mah Haha ran 10^th in the $1m The Gong (1600m) last Saturday.

"That was a very very deep end too," Burleigh said. "He is just a victim to his rating, it's gone right up. It's above 88 so he'll carry a heap of weight in a rating 88 race.

"He'll have to go around with no weight on his back and run against those group horses. He didn't disgrace himself."

Princess Spice's scratching from the opener at Canberra on Friday reduces the field to five horses. Queanbeyan trainer Joe Cleary will debut King Gutho, while Sydney trio Volcanic Rock, Wilsons Prom and Belle O'ballee have all accepted.

Meanwhile, Keith Dryden will hope to continue his stellar run of form when he saddles up Balonne as he chases back-to-back Federal Handicap wins.

Former leading jockey John Scorse provides all the tips you need for Canberra's race meet on Friday.

Best bet: Race 5, No 6 Dip Me Lid

Best roughie: Race 8, No 2 Judicator

Race one: No 2 Volcanic Rock. Ridden out to win trial at Randwick and will find the rail and be hard to run down. No 6 Princess Spice SCRATCHED. No 5 Belle O'ballee. Has trialled twice in strong heats and looks very well educated, gets the sit on them. No 3 Wilsons Prom. Watch parade and market.

Race 2: No 1 King Wimbble. Steamed home from well back on debut and has had a stable change, given a very easy trial recently and coming off long break, hard to run down. No 2 Northernero. Bolted in at the trials before chasing home strongly on debut, better for the run and bigger track will suit, making a long trip for this. No 8 Princess of Meydan Ran into a smart one on debut at the provincials, will be prominent throughout. No 7 Emma's Gift. Next best.

Race 3: No 1 Cubman. Looked super winning first up at Hawkesbury, rises in weight but bigger track is sure to suit and will get the right run. No 3 Nuremburg Castle. Very good form last prep and unsuited from wide draw at Gundagai, will finish strong it on his home track. No 7 Ashre Jane. Resuming from 2yo campaign and has trialed twice, watch market. No 4 Absolutely Foxy. Speedy and has a place chance.

Race 4: No 4 Successful Day. Romped in over 1400 in may and straight to the paddock, races well fresh and drawn to be there all the way. No 3 Fusca. Nice mare who chased hard first up when placed, will be improved and should be strong late. No 5 Motime. Tough campaigner at his pet distance here. No 1 Acton Shale. Next best.

Race 5: No 6 Dip Me Lid. Set to peak at fourth run in, just run down last start and likes this distance, looks very hard to beat here. No 4 Appetizing. Forgive last run when stuck on worst section, placed previous two runs this t/d and claim helps. No 3 Genoveffa. Strong staying mare who usually takes a few runs to peak, has won twice at third run in. No 7 Alpine king Next best.

Race 6: No 4 Chateaux Park. Resuming here off two nice trials, placed 2/5 last prep and struck a few heavy tracks, ideally drawn, check market moves. No 11 Affiliate Placed 1/4 and hampered by wet tracks, found the distance too short when resuming, well drawn and extra trip suits. No 5 Always Sure. Got back and finished well on debut, well bred and sure to be improved. No 3 Read All About It. Resumed off two years off when even effort at Hawkesbury, sure to be better for that and extra trip a plus.

Race 7: No 14 Scarleo In top form this prep and very well placed here, run down late last time and back in distance is good for him. No 13 Banger. Gets back but has a big finish, resumed at Gundagai but unsuited, better off on the bigger track. No 11 Balonne. Came with a big finish to win well over 1600 last time and a query back in trip but cannot leave out. No 9 Upper House. Not the worst here.

Race 8: No 4 Nu Jiang. Close up in both provincial runs before solid all the way win at Goulburn, well drawn and extra trip he can win again. No 9 Upscale. Consistent placegetter who is well drawn and at his best this distance. No 6 Post Free. Improving with each run and coming off a strong win, extra distance in his favour but will need luck. No 2 Judicator. Can improve here.