Racing News  

Prix de l'Opera - Form Comments

02/10/2015

G1 - 2000m - Turf

 

Fate

Nearly all her races have been on soft or very soft ground, conditions unlikely on Sunday. She ran very well on her first two starts this season, including when a close third in a G2 over this course and distance back in April. Coming back from a 3 1/2 month break she also ran well when fifth in a G1 at Deauville in August though she is likely to encounter horses who finished in front of her that day.

 

Cladocera

A strong filly who enjoyed a terrific spell at Meydan earlier in the year, winning two G2's, both times with jockey Christophe Soumillon employing very patient tactics. She has generally continued to compete well in top company since and was again played late when runner-up in a G1 over 1600m at Leopardstown last month. This extra distance may prove helpful.

 

Odeliz

Comes here fresh off a clear career best when a change to front-running tactics worked brilliantly and she held on to score a 35-1 shock victory in a G1 over this distance at Deauville in August. British trained, but she also won here at Longchamp much earlier in her career, a good sign.

 

We Are

Won this race last year surging fast and late to get the money in a thrilling finish in which only a couple of lengths covered the first seven horses. She has had a light year with just three runs including a second to Treve in a G2 at Saint-Cloud back in May. She ran well at Deauville last time, but her trainer said she wasn't 100% that day and this has always been her main target.

 

Feodora

A rarity in that her only career success came in a G1 event. That was at Dusseldorf last year when she was German-trained but since moving to France's top stable she has so far failed to improve on that outstanding effort. Last seen when 6L eighth behind today's rival Odeliz in a G1 at Deauville in August.

 

Star Of Seville

Shortly after having been soundly beaten in the G1 Oaks at Epsom after suffering a very rough trip she travelled over to Chantilly and won the French equivalent back in June, under a fine tactical ride from Frankie Dettori. Disappointing on her only start since, she is very talented but may be quirky.

 

Covert Love

Hugely progressive in 2015, starting off with a maiden win followed by a handicap, then a Listed race success before winning the G1 Irish Oaks over 2400m at The Curragh in July. She likes to gallop from up front and almost completed a G1 double at York in August, just nailed late on by Pleascach. Expect to see very positive tactics again especially as she may be vulnerable to speedier rivals over this shorter distance.

 

Pleascach

A highly-talented and versatile filly, with her two G1 victories this season coming over 1600m and 2400m.  She could'n't accelerate quick enough when 3½ lengths fourth to Golden Horn in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes over 2000m at Leopardstown last month but the opposition here looks weaker. A strong gallop would be a big help.

 

Jazzi Top

Facts and figures suggest that she has improved race by race in her seven race career. It was certainly a career best last time when she travelled from her base at Newmarket to Deauville in France to win a G2 over this distance in August. That win hadn't looked likely as she was short of room until a gap opened on the far rails just in time. From a stable having a terrific season and there may be more improvement to come.

 

Diamondsandrubies

Clear highlight of her eight race career was her victory in a G1 over this distance at The Curragh in June when she got a well-judged front-running ride to fend off two high grade rivals who have both won big races since. However she will need to significantly upgrade on two disappointing efforts since.

 

Bourree

This German-trained filly stepped up to this 2000m distance at Deauville in August and recorded easily her best performance, fighting hard in the closing stages to gain a narrow victory in a G3. Despite starting at 20 for that race, her trainer said afterwards that he was quite confident that she would win because this was the distance she needed.

 

Wekeela

She gained an easy G3 victory over 1800m at Chantilly in June but she proved a disappointment when strongly fancied in the betting for her only start since then. Lightly raced and so may be capable of some further improvement, and she seems happy on any ground conditions.

 

Queen's Jewel

Her rise up the ladder was very swift, winning her first three starts including a G3 on her second start and then a G1 over this distance at Longchamp in May. She then started favourite for the G1 French Oaks at Chantilly in June but despite having a bad gate and suffering some early interference, her response in home straight was very disappointing. She has had a long break since and is reported to having been working well on the Chantilly gallops.

 

Little Nightingale

She won a G3 at Saint-Cloud in May and then moved up to G1 company for the French Oaks, making good ground from the back to finish third over the 2100m at Chantilly. Not quite as effective in a G2 at Deauville two months later. She can race too keenly in the early stages, and her trainer has been trying to teach her to relax.

 

Related Website�G

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Day

Close

Copyright © 2000-2024 The Hong Kong Jockey Club. All rights reserved.