Prix de l'Opéra

The Prix de l'Opéra is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.

Prix de l'Opéra
Group 1 race
LocationLongchamp Racecourse
Paris, France
Inaugurated1974
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
SponsorLongines
Websitefrance-galop.com
Race information
Distance2,000 metres (1¼ miles)[1]
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed[1]
QualificationThree-years-old and up
fillies and mares[1]
Weight56 kg (3yo); 58 kg (4yo+)[1]
Purse€500,000 (2018)
1st: €285,700[1]
Prix de l'Opéra
2019
Villa Marina Fleeting Watch Me

History

The event was established in 1974, and it was initially classed at Group 2 level. It was originally restricted to three and four-year-old fillies and contested over 1,850 metres.

The race was opened to older mares in 1990. It was extended to 2,000 metres and promoted to Group 1 status in 2000.

The Prix de l'Opéra was added to the Breeders' Cup Challenge series in 2011. The winner now earns an automatic invitation to compete in the same year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.[2]

The race is currently held on the first Sunday in October, the same day as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

  • Athyka – 1988, 1989

Leading jockey (3 wins):

Leading trainer (5 wins):

Leading owner (4 wins):

  • HH Aga Khan IV – Timarida (1995), Shalanaya (2009), Ridasiyna (2012), Dalkala (2013)

Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time
1974 Cheryl 3 Jean-Claude Desaint Freddie Palmer T. Kitano 2:00.50
1975 Sea Sands 3 Yves Saint-Martin Miguel Clément W. J. Salmon, Jr. 1:57.60
1976 Dona Barod 4 Maurice Philipperon John Cunnington, Jr. Antonio Blasco 2:02.20
1977 Waya 3 Yves Saint-Martin Angel Penna Daniel Wildenstein 1:53.50
1978 Cistus 3 Willie Carson Dick Hern Sir Michael Sobell 2:03.40
1979 Producer 3 Lester Piggott Maurice Zilber Roy Gottlieb 1:56.30
1980 Hortensia 3 Alain Lequeux Olivier Douieb Robert Sangster 1:52.20
1981 Kilmona 3 Yves Saint-Martin Gérald Sauque Mrs Léon Givaudan 2:01.90
1982 Dione 3 Willie Carson John Dunlop Daniel Prenn 1:59.70
1983 Royal Heroine 3 Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute Robert Sangster 1:50.10
1984 Reine Mathilde 3 Freddy Head Criquette Head Ecurie Aland 2:08.10
1985 Bella Colora 3 Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute Helena Springfield Ltd 1:53.50
1986 Secret Form 3 Cash Asmussen Pascal Bary Peter Goulandris 1:53.70
1987 Mona Stella 3 Gary W. Moore Criquette Head Jacques Wertheimer 1:56.50
1988 Athyka 3 Guy Guignard Criquette Head Jacques Wertheimer 1:52.00
1989 Athyka 4 Guy Guignard Criquette Head Jacques Wertheimer 1:56.30
1990 Colour Chart 3 Cash Asmussen André Fabre Sheikh Mohammed 1:54.60
1991 Martessa 3 Terence Hellier Andreas Wöhler Gestüt Hof Heidendom 1:56.30
1992 Hatoof 3 Walter Swinburn Criquette Head Maktoum Al Maktoum 2:02.50
1993 Verveine 4 Olivier Peslier Elie Lellouche Daniel Wildenstein 1:58.90
1994 Andromaque [lower-alpha 1] 4 Pat Eddery Roger Charlton Carlos Stelling 1:53.90
1995 Timarida 3 Johnny Murtagh John Oxx Aga Khan IV 1:55.70
1996 Donna Viola 4 John Reid Chris Wall Kieran Scott 1:55.50
1997 Clodora 3 Thierry Jarnet André Fabre Jean-Luc Lagardère 1:51.10
1998 Insight 3 Cash Asmussen John Hammond Niarchos Family 1:58.60
1999 Diamond White 4 Tim Sprake Mick Ryan Peter Scott 2:02.30
2000 Petrushka 3 Johnny Murtagh Sir Michael Stoute Highclere Racing Ltd 2:02.00
2001 Terre a Terre 4 Christophe Soumillon Eric Libaud Devin / Ashbrooke 2:19.30
2002 Bright Sky 3 Dominique Boeuf Elie Lellouche Ecurie Wildenstein 2:02.30
2003 Zee Zee Top 4 Kieren Fallon Sir Michael Stoute Helena Springfield Ltd 2:08.00
2004 Alexander Goldrun 3 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger Miriam O'Callaghan 2:02.30
2005 Kinnaird 4 Kevin Darley Patrick Haslam Renata Jacobs 2:04.60
2006 Mandesha 3 Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré Zahra Aga Khan 2:00.90
2007 Satwa Queen 5 Thierry Thulliez Jean de Roualle Steven & Gillian Lamprell 2:03.80
2008 Lady Marian 3 Dominique Boeuf Werner Baltromei R'stall Gestüt Hachtsee 2:03.80
2009 Shalanaya 3 Maxime Guyon Mikel Delzangles HH Aga Khan IV 2:01.80
2010 Lily of the Valley 3 Ioritz Mendizabal Jean-Claude Rouget Bernard Barsi 2:09.80
2011 Nahrain 3 Frankie Dettori Roger Varian Ahmed Al Maktoum 2:02.74
2012 Ridasiyna 3 Christophe Lemaire Mikel Delzangles HH Aga Khan IV 2:11.13
2013 Dalkala 4 Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:09.03
2014 We Are 3 Thierry Jarnet Freddy Head George Strawbridge, Jr. 2:02.43
2015 Covert Love 3 Pat Smullen Hugo Palmer Fomo Syndicate 2:04.43
2016 Speedy Boarding[lower-alpha 2] 4 Frederik Tylicki James Fanshawe Helena Springfield Ltd 2:02.03
2017 Rhododendron[lower-alpha 2] 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor / Smith 2:03.60
2018 Wild Illusion 3 William Buick Charlie Appleby Godolphin 2:04.32
2019 Villa Marina 3 Olivier Peslier Carlos Laffon-Parias SARL Darpat France 2:09.09
  1. Erin Bird finished first in 1994, but she was relegated to fifth place following a stewards' inquiry.
  2. The 2016 and 2017 runnings took place at Chantilly while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment.
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See also

References
  1. "Prix de l'Opera". The French Black Type. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  2. "2012 Breeders' Cup Challenge Schedule" (PDF). breederscup.com. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
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