Kalashnikov claims third Black Opal Stakes win for Snowden Racing

Snowden Racing claimed Canberra's biggest race for the second straight year when Kalashnikov stormed home to win by 0.24 lengths at Thoroughbred Park on Sunday.

It all but secures his entry into group 1 Golden Slipper on March 20, which is the world's richest race for two-year-old horses - having also won in Gosford last month.

His sire Capitalist won the 2016 Golden Slipper, with Kalashnikov securing his second stakes win of his stud career after Tycoon Humma won in Flemington in late February.

Paul Snowden said he was happy with the way Kalashnikov paraded at Thoroughbred Park and that "there's no reason why he can't" press for the Golden Slipper if he pulled up well.

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"They're target races for a horse like this because it obviously gets him into the Slipper, and the prize money is massive," Snowden said.

"For the first prize winner, it means a lot and gets him into that provided he pulls up well. Hopefully we can do that justice."

The colt overtook a gallant Rocket Tiger, who held the lead from the gate, at the 100-metre mark before holding off Solar Winds to claim victory by a nose.

Jockey James McDonald was excited by the victory, given he was narrowly beaten by the Snowden-trained Barbaric last year with Bartley.

"I had a perfect barrier. He slipped behind the leaders and accelerated well. He was getting tired late but the tempo was strong and he got the job done," McDonald said.

Canberra trainers claimed five of the eight races on Black Opal Stakes Day, with Keith Dryden's Handle The Truth leading the way with a track record-breaking win in the $150,000 National Sprint (1400 metres).

Joseph-Jones Racing won two races, starting with Zelago in the benchmark 65 handicap (1400 metres) before Merc saluted the meeting with a tight victory in the class 1 handicap (1000 metres).

The Riharna Thomson Bracelet was awarded to jockey Brendan Ward after he led Norm Gardner's Dancin' Until Dawn home in the memorial race for maidens.

The filly accelerated down the outside on the straight to beat the Danielle Seib-trained Spicy Restaurant by 0.76 lengths.

"It is [special] for every trainer in Canberra. They really liked Riharna, she was very popular - plus it's worth a lot of money," Gardner said.

"It's a race we targeted about three months ago when the filly first came back into work, she had a fair few runs and was a bit unlucky. So we targeted this race, it's great when a plan comes together.

"When she drew barrier 13 I was a bit worried, she came in at 10 which was good. It was a real thrill, being her memorial means a lot to everyone."

Gardner will now target the Murrumbidgee Guineas in May for the three-year-old filly, having came a close second with Cyborg last year.

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