By Tom Frary
Impressive in the G3 Flame of Tara S. at The Curragh in August, Opera Singer (Justify–Liscanna {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells) took it to another level on Sunday as she outclassed her contemporaries in ParisLongchamp's G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac, a GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf qualifying race.
Stoked up from the break by Ryan Moore to enjoy a narrow lead from Darnation (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), the half-sister to War Front's top-level winners Hit It A Bomb and Brave Anna had that rival in trouble inside the straight and lengthened away to score by five lengths from Rose Bloom (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), with 3/4 of a length back to the TDN Rising Star Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never) in third.
“She's a big filly, genuine and strong and long-striding with loads of class,” Aidan O'Brien said of the 17-10 favourite. “She got a brilliant ride. She has the option of going to the Breeders' Cup, but we'll talk to Ryan and speak with the lads.”
Introduced in the seven-furlong Curragh maiden won by stablemate Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in June, Opera Singer was up to this trip to open her account at Leopardstown in July before dropping down again to be a head second to A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) in The Curragh's Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race in mid-August. It was two weeks later back in Kildare that the flashy bay really came alive, galloping her rivals into the ground to win the Flame of Tara, run under the banner Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF S., by 6 1/2 lengths.
There was no hiding place here, with the winner closing out with a final three furlongs in :32.92 and a penultimate split of :10.59 which was faster than Rosallion's equivalent in the preceding race.
“Ryan said she was very straightforward,” O'Brien added of Justify's first European Group 1 winner. “I thought she was very strong all the way to the line and it was an impressive performance. She's by Justify and they get better with age. As she steps up in trip she's something to look forward to next year.
“She's obviously a filly that would have no problem starting off at a mile in a Classic and you would imagine she would have no problem going up to a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half. Ryan was raving about her there coming in–he said I look forward to this day next year!”
Nicolas Clement said of Rose Bloom, “She had a very good race behind the winner and despite running a bit freely, ran on really well at the finish. She was beaten by a good filly and we're the first home of the French finishers, so we are hopeful of having a good filly on our hands for next season. I don't think she'll run again this year.”
Francis-Henri Graffard said of Les Pavots, “We're delighted with her performance. She's a very professional filly, but the winner seemed unbeatable and so we're pleased with our third place. We're going to talk to her owners, but it's possible that she'll run in the Breeders' Cup. That's always been on the owner's mind. She acts well on a sound surface.”
Pedigree Notes
Opera Singer is the 11th foal out of the G3 Ballyogan S. winner Liscanna (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), whose aforementioned Brave Anna captured the G1 Cheveley Park S. and Hit It A Bomb the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. The second dam is the dual listed winner and G2 Rockfel S. runner-up Lahinch (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), whose four black-type performers include the G3 Kilternan S. winner The Bogberry (Hawk Wing) and the G1 Oaks runner-up Ennistymon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Another of her Galileo progeny was the G2 Kilboy Estate S. second Lahinch Classics (Ire) who is in turn the dam of the GI Summer S. runner-up Grafton Street also by Brave Anna and Hit It A Bomb's sire War Front.
Stunning! Justify filly Opera Singer wins the Group 1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore at @paris_longchamp #WinAndYoureIN pic.twitter.com/xsGS7tdic2
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 1, 2023
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX MARCEL BOUSSAC – CRITERIUM DES POULICHES-G1, €400,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-1, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:36.40, g/s.
1–OPERA SINGER, 123, f, 2, by Justify
1st Dam: Liscanna (Ire) (GSW-Ire, $118,164), by Sadler's Wells
2nd Dam: Lahinch (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
3rd Dam: Dublah, by Private Account
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-M Tabor, D Smith, Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg; B-Mrs E Stockwell (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €228,560. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 5-3-1-0, €282,750. *1/2 to Hit It A Bomb (War Front), GISW-US, SW & MGSP-Ire, $626,476; Brave Anna (War Front), G1SW-Eng, $213,423; Border Town (War Front), GSP-US, $273,148; and Threeandfourpence (War Front), SP-Ire, $275,643. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Rose Bloom (Ire), 123, f, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Xaarienne (GB), by Xaar (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€320,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-China Horse Club International; B-John O'Connor (IRE); T-Nicolas Clement. €91,440.
3–Les Pavots (Ire), 123, f, 2, No Nay Never–Sparrow (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Craig Bernick & Haras d'Etreham; B-Coolmore Stud (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €45,720.
Margins: 5, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.70, 9.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: Ribaltagaia, Darnation (Ire), Extraordinaire (Fr), Voodoo Magic (Fr), Julica (Fr), Freville (Fr), Zandy (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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