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Opera Singer calls tune in Qatar Nassau Stakes

Horse Racing | Press Article 01/08/24

Opera Singer defeated a high-quality field to take the 10-furlong G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes, highlight on day three of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Ryan Moore made most of the running on the Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old, who arrived on the back of a second in the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A couple of late challenges were delivered by See The Fire and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Sparkling Plenty, but Opera Singer found plenty to score by a neck and three-quarters of a length.

The daughter of Justify – sire of her illustrious stablemate and Derby winner City Of Troy – was enjoying her second top-level success after last year’s Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac.

O’Brien said: “When Ryan got off Opera Singer last year after she won the Marcel Boussac, he said this filly could come back and win the Arc. She’s a very special filly. Ryan gave her an incredible ride, too, but he was so confident about her. He makes it happen all the time for us.

“We had an interrupted spring with her; she was barely ready for a racecourse gallop when she went to The Curragh for the Guineas, and then we left her to go straight to Ascot, where she ran a great race. All we were wanting to do was step her up to a mile and a quarter, and that was here. There is every chance she will get a mile and a half. She’s very classy. Ryan just said she was waiting in front – to do that in front of a bunch of fillies like that, and she fought as well, so you’d have to be pleased with that.

“She’ll go to one of the fillies’ races in France [before the Arc] and she can have a run around the track and that kind of thing. Something like that, but the lads will decide what they want to do.

“I don’t think she needs to be tested at 12 furlongs before the Arc. She could do it, but we always thought she’ll stay. She’d have to run before then, anyway.

“I couldn’t believe she was placed in the Irish Guineas – couldn't believe it. She wasn’t ready to be placed but she got placed. The second day, Ryan felt another horse went to make the running and it messed up his pace a little bit, and she was beaten by a very good filly. It always looked like she was crying out to go a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half.

“Justifys – the one thing about them, they don’t stop. Every one of them, they keep going.

“Ryan should keep improving until he’s 45 and he’s only 41! I tell him every year he’s getting better!”

Moore said: “I was very confident that Opera Singer would stay. She does everything beautifully. She is fine at 10 furlongs but I don't think 12 would be an issue. When she won the Boussac on her last year, I thought she was an Arc filly.

“The only reason she didn't run in the Guineas was because she had a little setback. She started late in the Irish Guineas on ground that was slow on the day, which didn't suit her. She still ran very well.

“She ran a super race at Ascot, where she was beaten by Donnacha's good filly [Porta Fortuna]. We always felt when she won the Boussac at a mile last year that, staying on very well, that she would be a 10 or 12-furlong filly.

“I thought she would take a lot of beating today and hopefully she will improve again.”

See The Fire’s trainer Andrew Balding said: “She is a very good filly and I am sure her turn will come. I am proud of the effort. It is just annoying being beaten two races in a row – Aidan can go home!”

Oisin Murphy added: “Good run. I thought it was a pace collapse from two furlongs out and I thought I’d pick up Ryan, but, as Ryan taught me in the last race, he takes a bit of passing.”

Patrice Cottier said of Sparkling Plenty: “She just got a little unbalanced, but I am pleased with the run. It was always the plan to ride her at the back because we wanted her to relax. She finished really well. She might go for the Prix Vermeille and then we shall see.''

Cristian Demuro added: “It wasn’t Sparking Plenty’s ground, and she didn’t really like the downhill, but then she finished really well. The team are very happy with her. We’ll see about the next race, but probably the Vermeille and then we will think about the Arc as well.”

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

For editorial enquiries please contact:

Emma Chamings, Goodwood Racecourse Press Office: emma@jsccomms.co.uk

About Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is steeped in horseracing history dating back to 1802 when the 3rd Duke of Richmond introduced the sport. Significant moments within horseracing’s history have taken place at Goodwood Racecourse. Lord George Bentinck commissioned the first ever horsebox to take his horse in secret from Goodwood to Doncaster to win the 1836 St leger. In 1952, Goodwood became the first British racecourse to provide racegoers with live commentary. It was also at Goodwood that Her Majesty The Queen has her last winner with her horse Love Affair.

There are 19 fixtures that take place across the season from May – October. One of the highlights of the flat racing season takes place at Goodwood Racecourse, the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Once described by King Edward VII as ‘a garden party with racing tacked on,’ the world-famous five-day festival - affectionately known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’ - sees many of the world’s greatest horses battle it out for honours. Thousands of people flock to the world’s most beautiful racecourse to enjoy top class racing and entertainment.

Tickets, dining and hospitality are on sale for the Qatar Goodwood Festival, which takes place from 30 July to 3 August. Visit Goodwood.com or call 01243 755055 to find out more.

About Goodwood
Goodwood Estate is England’s greatest sporting estate set in 11,000 acres of beautiful West Sussex countryside. Seat of the Dukes of Richmond since 1697, it is renowned for creating exceptional experiences and world-class sporting events, as well as hosting some of the largest and most anticipated occasions in the British social calendar: Festival of Speed, Qatar Goodwood Festival, Goodwood Revival and Goodwoof.

Alongside Goodwood’s rich history sits an estate-wide culture of protecting and promoting sustainability, creativity, and the environment. The diverse portfolio of businesses includes one of the largest lowland organic farms in Europe; a famous Battle of Britain airfield and aerodrome; a racecourse; a historic motor circuit; two golf courses; one of the oldest cricket grounds in the country; The Kennels members’ clubhouse; ten-bedroom luxury retreat, Hound Lodge; self-catering holiday cottages, The Pheasantry, Peach Tree and Crab Apple; Goodwood Hotel and Health Club; the Goodwood Education Centre; the award-winning sustainable restaurant Farmer, Butcher, Chef and, of course, Goodwood House.