Five of the last seven winners of the Prix de l’Opera were three-year-olds and I fancy that the good run of the classic generation will continue this weekend.
Snowfall and Tarnawa will disappear from the list at 10.30am UK time this morning and although Love is quoted at 4-1, she looks likely to join those two in the Prix de l’Arc itself – or be a scratch from the weekend with all the rain in Paris.
Joan Of Arc was cited as Aidan O’Brien’s possible contender in this on Racing TV’s On The Wire podcast. The Prix de Diane winner ran a lifeless race in the Prix Vermeille earlier this month and requires a leap of faith.
7-1 shot La Petite Coco is one that could come out at today’s stage. The Team Valor-owned filly looks certain to next be seen on Qipco British Champions Day, going by public comments.
Audarya has been backed this month into 4-1 – although she is winless this season she is building nicely to her end of year targets and she looks highly likely to reverse the form with Deauville winner Grand Glory.
In 2014 this race was taken out by Freddy Head’s We Are. Rated a UK equivalent of 106 before the Opera, she won it brilliantly on her fifth career start, having made her racecourse debut in April that same year. Freddy’s son Christopher saddles Sibila Spain in this edition and although she is far from a dark filly, she has been missed in the markets here and the style of her Listed success last time was one of a Group One filly.
Sibila Spain is very talented! The Frankel filly doesn't see another rival as she hacks up in Listed company at @paris_longchamp for @CHeadRacing and Olivier Peslier… pic.twitter.com/oRaYORN4K7
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 2, 2021
She had excuses in both the Group One Saint-Alary and the Group One Prix de Diane, but ran with great credit in both on unsuitably fast ground. This has been the plan for a while and I think connections have found a winnable Group One on soft ground for this daughter of Frankel in Sunday’s Opera, in receipt of 2kg from Audarya and co.
On offer this morning at 12-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook, I believe she will jump out on Sunday at around 5-1 and run a career best. Based on the likely field here and her relative freshness, I would be disappointed to see her out the first three.
Antepost, Sunday 3 October, Prix de l’Opera – 2pt win Sibila Spain @ 12-1 (Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook, 10-1 elsewhere)
