Canberra trainer Nick Olive couldn’t be happier with Capital Commander heading into the $100,000 National Sprint on Black Opal Stakes day this Sunday, but fears it still might not be enough to get the win in the 1200-metre sprint.

Olive was impressed with his four-year-old at Canberra trackwork yesterday and said she had progressed well since a last-start fourth in the Burley Griffin Sprint on February 26.

But with some of Sydney’s in-form sprinters nominating for the listed event, Olive had reservations about what his mare could achieve.

He highlighted group 2 Breeders Classic winner Steps In Time as the horse to beat, but also questioned whether she would run.

”This is her toughest test, it’s the first stakes race she’s contested,” Olive said. ”Some of those horses [from Sydney] could be too strong – I hope [they don’t come] – Steps in Time in particular is a very progressive horse, but there’s some other big races around so I wouldn’t think most would come.”

He said Capital Commander was better for the run last month.

”She worked fabulous and I’m really happy,” Olive said.

”She’s improved a lot since then and things didn’t go right for her – she wasn’t wound up for the race.”

The Sprint has attracted several stakes-winning horses, including three-time group 1 winner Sniper’s Bullet, and several Sydney trainers will send horses for all four listed events, including the $250,000 Black Opal Stakes.

Unbeaten filly Cavalry Rose will put her Golden Slipper aspirations to the test when she contests the two-year-old feature.

Cavalry Rose is one of two Gerald Ryan-trained juveniles among a strong group of 34 nominations for the 1200m listed feature, with stablemate My Shabella also in line for a start.

Cavalry Rose chased down Diamond Earth to win the Inglis Classic (1200m) at Rosehill on debut before coming out three weeks later on February 11 to win a two-year-old open handicap at the same track and distance.

Corey Brown has been booked to ride the filly in the Black Opal.

The meeting also features the $200,000 Listed Canberra Cup (2000m), the Listed National Sprint (1400m) and Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m).

”She has freshened up well and her work was good on Saturday morning,” Ryan said of Cavalry Rose.

”I was nearly going to trial her this morning but the way she pulled up on Saturday morning she didn’t need it. She couldn’t have done much more in her two starts and she’s beaten the colts and geldings both times.

”It will probably be her toughest test on Sunday but she has earned her crack at it.

”If she went really well on Sunday her next run would be in the Golden Slipper.”

Ryan won the Black Opal with Paint in 1996.

The Rosehill-based trainer also has My Shabella entered for a 1200m maiden at Wyong today.

”My Shabella will probably be scratched tomorrow and run in it as well with Josh Adams to ride,” Ryan said. ”She trialled well then I thought she was a fraction disappointing first-up. She has done well since though so we’ll probably give her a crack at it.

”She’s certainly got the ability.”

My Shabella won at the official two-year-old barrier trials at Canterbury in September and won another trial at Rosehill last month before her debut.

The daughter of Haradasun started favourite on debut at Canterbury when beaten less than half a length into third place to the Gai Waterhouse-trained Valerio.

Black Opal nominations include Sydney debut winners Lator Gator, Faustus and Epaulette. with AAP