Matthew Dale's Pretty Woman to race in Riesling Stakes instead of Black Opal

Matthew Dale and Pretty Woman's connections have opted to send the two-year-old filly to Saturday's Reisling Stakes (1200 metres) to race against her own sex.

The $300,000 Riesling Stakes offers better prizemoney and a higher level of racing, and given Pretty Woman drew barrier four she has a strong chance to claim it.

She was the capital's best chance of winning the Group 3 Black Opal (1200 metres) since the Gratz Vella-trained You're Canny flew home in 2011.

The decision to forego the feature race was made on late Friday afternoon, with Dale saying it was disappointing to take a left turn so close to the Canberra Racing Carnival - but it was the right choice for the racehorse.

"Ultimately, to race against her own sex at the Riesling was a big lure and she drew really well there barrier wise," Dale said.

"Just looking at the Black Opal, it's still a tough race with a few strong colts. When we've got an option to race against the fillies the day before, that's the way we decided to go.

"In a way it's a have your feature race at your home track and have the horse to suit it to be competitive. Once we discussed and drew both races, it was the right option for the horse to go to Randwick."

The Black Opal, Riesling and Todman Stakes prelude the $3.5 million Golden Slipper, which is the richest race for two-year-old horses in the world.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Swift Witness is the Riesling Stakes favourite, with Pretty Woman - who's won two races from as many starts - sitting second on the odds.

"It will tell us exactly where we sit [for the Golden Slipper] and it gives her a trip away," Dale said.

"It's a Group 2 over a Group 3. There's a lot of different factors that came into it, the biggest one was that she could have the opportunity to race against her own sex with a better barrier."

Hawkes Racing is still deciding whether to send dual-nominated Remarque and Solar Winds to Sunday's Black Opal or the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200 metres). They have until Saturday morning to figure out which way they'll head.

Remarque, a winner of his only start at Rosehill in January, has drawn barrier two in both races and is considered as the horse to beat in Canberra. Solar Winds, on the other hand, is unraced and drew barriers five (Black Opal) and nine (Todman Stakes).

Remarque has not raced for seven weeks because he had a cold, but trainer Wayne Hawkes said the colt's preparation has gone well and he's going out for a win.

"It's always nice to win your first start with any horse. With colts it's always a lot of money, so it's nice to have a picket fence next to your name with 'win, win win'. Wherever we bounce, we're going out to win," Hawkes said.

"They've both drawn well in both places... the Canberra race would be a touch easier, there's a couple of Slipper favourites racing on Saturday.

"If you can't beat them then, you probably can't win the Golden Slipper. It's a decision we have to make, one impressed in one start and the other is unraced but a lovely horse."

Hawkes Racing's Dadoozdart has drawn barrier two for Monday's Canberra Cup (2000 metres), with the trainer saying the five-year-old gelding will make the trip down the Hume Highway for sure.

"He's worked well. It's time he starts to put his hoof on the tilt, he needs to step up now," Hawkes said.

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