Regal Opal Primed For Qld Masters Tilt

IF you take a glimpse at Regal Opal's form you could be forgiven for thinking she belongs in tougher company than Thursday night's Racing Queensland Masters Final (520m) at Albion Park.

But if you take into account the trials and tribulations trainer Greg Stella has gone through to get her fit and healthy, a victory on Thursday night would be reward for patience and perseverance after spending six months on the sidelines.

And after winning her heat last week in a slick 30.19, the daughter of Barcia Bale is a great chance in the $12,000 to-the-winner final despite drawing box six.

"I was more than happy with her effort last week," Stella beamed.

"She'd had a couple of stewards trials, but to do it under race conditions was really good to see.

"Despite only having 25 starts she doesn't turn four for a few months. She's had two injury lay-offs that have lasted more than six months and it was good to be able to bring her back in Masters grade with what she's been through."

Most pleasing for Stella is that Regal Opal has pulled up fit and sound for Thursday's finale, coming out of last week's heat run in great order.

"We earmarked the race for her about eight weeks ago but we were a little behind schedule and had to rush through her work late," Stella said.

"She's tightened up well from her heat run and looks a treat. She has got a tough draw in the final (6) but she does have the speed to offset it. But she's going to have to get it right early because Darryl McGrath's bitch (Georgie Mac) in the five can fly early too."

The Masters Final is no walk in the park with seasoned talent across the board.

"Her best asset is her acceleration to the first mark, she's gone 5.49 early and has a good strike rate from box six as well … I'm pretty confident she'll be there on the first corner," Stella said.

"If you lead cleanly around that first corner at Albion when there's a bit of speed behind you you're always a chance of getting a race winning break down the back and she's a chance to do just that."

Victory on Thursday night will be just reward for Stella who has stuck the course with the talented bitch.

"She's had more than her share of bad luck along the way," Stella said.

"She had a right hock issue way back when she cracked a central carpal bone and that resulted in well over six months off.

"The hock healed really well, and we haven't had any problems with it since but last December she turned her head in a race which was very uncharacteristic and pulled up with a badly injured pin muscle.

"We thought we had the pin muscle right and she tore it again and that leads us to the last few months where she's had to go through her stewards trials to get back to the track."