Black Opium Sends Sapphire Warning

BLACK Opium returned to the Sandown Park winners list for the first time in almost 18 months with a brilliant all-of-the-way win on Thursday night.

The three time group 1 runner-up was faultless from box one, establishing a two length margin on the field as she recorded a slick 5.03 first split.

From there the result was never in doubt, extending her margin to eight lengths at the finish, stopping the clock in 29.33.

The win was more than five lengths faster than any other winner on the night, a performance all the more impressive given the wintry conditions.

Her first split was the fastest she had run at Sandown Park since she ran 5.01 on her way to running 29.21 in her heat of the 2018 TAB Melbourne Cup, and continued her impressive run of form since resuming from a spell in February.

"She's been going absolutely super without having a lot of luck," said her delighted handler Seona Thompson.

"Since she's had a little spell she's going better than ever, she just needed that bit of luck. Tonight (Thursday) she jumped like she can and the key to her is being in front early."

Black Opium holds the record for the most prize money won without winning a group race – now at $446,002.

She is the $5 favourite to break through at the top level when she takes her place in the heats of the group 1 Sapphire Crown next Thursday night.

Her last appearance in a group race series at Sandown Park ended in controversy when, as a $1.10 favourite for her semi-final of the 2018 Laurels, a storm swept through the track and caused the abandonment of the meeting.

Now, almost 18 months later, Thompson believes Black Opium is ready to break through at the sport's highest level.

"She seems like she's been around forever but she's only just turned three,” Thompson said.

"I think after the Laurels – the one that got away – maybe this is her chance (to break through at group level). She's shown this prep that she's not afraid to be in a field and she's racing so well – I'm looking forward to next week now."

Black Opium made it a winning double for the Thompson kennel following Golden Night's win in race two. The Sandown double capped a big day for the Pearcedale couple after husband Jason led home two winners in the Warrnambool Cup heats earlier in the afternoon courtesy of Zambora Smokey and Razor Sharp.

The heats of the Sapphire Crown will be run on Thursday May 7 and kicks off a month of group 1 racing at Sandown Park. The final for the Sapphire Crown will be run on Thursday 14 May and will be followed by the final of the Harrison-Dawson on 21 May and the RSN Sandown Cup on 28 May.