Golden Slipper second favourite Karuta Queen will be the star attraction at Canberra on Sunday with Neville Layt deciding on a Black Opal start for the unbeaten filly."She might even pull a few more people away from the Raiders (rugby league) game now," the trainer said after confirming the filly would take her place in Canberra's juvenile feature.Karuta Queen came up with barrier 12 for the $250,000 Listed Black Opal (1200m) when the final field was declared on Thursday.That was good enough for

Golden Slipper second favourite Karuta Queen will be the star attraction at Canberra on Sunday with Neville Layt deciding on a Black Opal start for the unbeaten filly.

"She might even pull a few more people away from the Raiders (rugby league) game now," the trainer said after confirming the filly would take her place in Canberra's juvenile feature.

Karuta Queen came up with barrier 12 for the $250,000 Listed Black Opal (1200m) when the final field was declared on Thursday.

That was good enough for connections to favour that race over the $125,000 Group Three Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), where she also drew wide in barrier 11, at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

"It's only one barrier difference and she might as well have a 20-minute float trip to Canberra rather than two and a half hours to Sydney," Queanbeyan-based Layt said.

"And maybe a few of the better-class horses in Sydney might scratch from the Black Opal now."

Karuta Queen has won all four of her starts, including the $2 million Magic Millions, and is on the second line of betting for next month's $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill behind Blue Diamond winner Sepoy.

However, two of Karuta Queen's victories have been in Magic Millions sales restricted races and that prizemoney doesn't count towards the Golden Slipper order of entry.

With that in mind, the prizemoney of the Black Opal was enticing and also played some part in the decision.

"In the Black Opal, even if she runs second she'll earn $50,000," Layt said.

"Even that would put her safely into the Golden Slipper without me having to worry.

"Anyway, with a bit of luck I think she is well-placed now. She has been jumping brilliantly, even in her trials, and she's been putting herself in races. She has come a long way from her first couple of starts when she was missing the kick."

Layt is trying to win the Black Opal for the second time after tasting success with Sarthemare in 2008.

While Karuta Queen is clearly the trainer's best chance, he has also accepted with Nineveh's Wish and second emergency Vang's Girl.

"Nineveh's Wish is actually a half-sister to Sarthemare," Layt said.

The Black Opal attracted a final field of 14 plus three emergencies but 11 of the 17 entrants have also accepted for either the Sweet Embrace Stakes or Skyline Stakes in Sydney on Saturday.