A simply sensational, scintillating eight-race card from Longchamp on Sunday – 13.15 – 18.00. The centrepiece of course is the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but the supporting contests are utterly compelling.
The cream of European racing are competing – and it’s bound to be spectacular.
13.50 – Opera Singer @ 9/4
Two improving, progressive UK/Ireland fillies dominate the Marcel Boussac for me – Karl Burke’s Darnation and Aidan O’Brien’s Opera Singer.
Group races have been won by both – and this trip of a mile seems ideal. Darnation has excelled particularly of late on soft, whereas Opera Singer’s most impressive showing to date, last time at the Curragh, was on good ground.
I’ve been trying to ascertain what the situation is likely to be on Arc day, and I must confess there have been conflicting reports. The strongest line I could get was it’s not likely to be testing – and that ‘good’ should appear in the going description. I’d advise a check prior to the event, but at any rate extremes of ground appears highly unlikely.
Autumn in Paris often gives us very soft conditions at Longchamp but I’m discounting that possibility this time. No excuses on that front then, fingers crossed.
Aidan has few (no) peers in this game, and Opera Singer is likely to be nicely tuned. This daughter of US Triple Crown winner Justify can continue on her upward trajectory and on only her fifth career start can take this prestigious juvenile Group One.
15.50 Jackie Oh @ 13/2
I’m staying with Aidan and jockey Ryan Moore and selecting Jackie Oh for this Prix de l’Opera test, over 1m 2f. This is a Galileo filly with the great Rock of Gibraltar heavily influencing on the dam’s side. Talk about bred for the job.
The ability is there, too. Progressive, she ran a career-best last time in a Curragh Group Two after an interrupted passage. A huge field for the Sandringham at the Royal meeting didn’t show her to best effect, but this is much more her thing. If there’s just a little bit of juice in the ground that would be ideal, and Jackie Oh for me is a sporting price offering a wee bit of good old value.
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