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.
| Group 1 race | |
| Location | Longchamp Racecourse Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1974 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor | Longines |
| Website | france-galop.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,000 metres (1¼ miles)[1] |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed[1] |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up fillies and mares[1] |
| Weight | 56 kg (3yo); 58 kg (4yo+)[1] |
| Purse | €500,000 (2021) 1st: €285,700[1] |
| 2022 | ||
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 |
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| Place Du Carrousel | Nashwa | Above The Curve |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ||
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 |
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| Rougir | Grand Glory | Eudaimonia |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ||
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 |
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| Tarnawa | Alpine Star | Audarya |
| 2019 | ||
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|
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| Villa Marina | Fleeting | Watch Me |
| 2018 | ||
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| Wild Illusion | Magic Wand | Homerique |
| 2017 | ||
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 |
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| Rhododendron | Hydrangea | Lady Frankel |
| 2016 | ||
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|
 |
| Speedy Boarding | Pleascach | So Mi Dar |
| 2015 | ||
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|
 |
| Covert Love | Jazzi Top | We Are |
| 2014 | ||
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 |
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| We Are | Ribbons | Hadaatha |
| 2013 | ||
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|
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| Dalkala | Tasaday | Thistle Bird |
| 2012 | ||
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|
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| Ridasiyna | Izzi Top | Giofra |
| 2011 | ||
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 |
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| Nahrain | Announce | Banimpire |
| 2010–2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
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| Lily Of The Valley | Stacelita | Fleur Enchantee |
| 2009 | ||
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 |
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| Shalanaya | Board Meeting | Midday |
| 2008 | ||
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| Lady Marian | Lush Lashes | Katiyra |
| 2007 | ||
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| Satwa Queen | Promising Lead | Legerete |
| 2006 | ||
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| Mandesha | Satwa Queen | Alexandrova |
| 2005 | ||
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|
 |
| Kinnaird | Mona Lisa | Alexander Goldrun |
| 2004 | ||
|
 |
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| Alexander Goldrun | Grey Lilas | Walkamia |
| 2003 | ||
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| Zee Zee Top | Yesterday | Bright Sky |
| 2002 | ||
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 |
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| Bright Sky | Irresistible Jewel | Marotta |
| 2001 | ||
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 |
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| Terre A Terre | Mot Juste | Rebelline |
| 2000–1994 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
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| Petrushka | Reve D'Oscar | Lady Upstage |
| 1999 | ||
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| Diamond White | Miss Berbere | Juvenia |
| 1998 | ||
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 |
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| Insight | Bardonecchia | Miscast |
| 1997 | ||
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| Clodora | Squeak | La Blue |
| 1996 | ||
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| Donna Viola | La Blue | Sangria |
| 1995 | ||
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| Timarida | Angel In My Heart | Balanka |
| 1994 | ||
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|
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| Andromaque | Misbegotten | Her Ladyship |
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):
- Yves Saint-Martin – Sea Sands (1975), Waya (1977), Kilmona (1981)
- Walter Swinburn – Royal Heroine (1983), Bella Colora (1985), Hatoof (1992)
- Cash Asmussen – Secret Form (1986), Colour Chart (1990), Insight (1998)
- Christophe Soumillon – Terre a Terre (2001), Mandesha (2006), Dalkala (2013)
Leading trainer (5 wins):
- Criquette Head-Maarek – Reine Mathilde (1984), Mona Stella (1987), Athyka (1988, 1989), Hatoof (1992)
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 | Élie 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 | Élie 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 |
| 2020 | Tarnawa | 4 | Christophe Soumillon | Dermot Weld | HH Aga Khan IV | 2:12.87 |
| 2021 | Rougir | 3 | Maxime Guyon | Cedric Rossi | Le Haras De La Gousserie | 2:11.15 |
| 2022 | Place Du Carrousel | 3 | Mickael Barzalona | André Fabre | Al Shaqab Racing & Ballylinch Stud | 2:12.64 |
- Erin Bird finished first in 1994, but she was relegated to fifth place following a stewards' inquiry.
- The 2016 and 2017 runnings took place at Chantilly while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment.
See also
References
- "Prix de l'Opéra". The French Black Type. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
- "2012 Breeders' Cup Challenge Schedule" (PDF). breederscup.com. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- France Galop (1979–1989) / Racing Post (1990–present) :
- france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix de l'Opéra.
- galopp-sieger.de – Prix de l'Opéra.
- horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix de l'Opéra (2018).
- pedigreequery.com – Prix de l'Opéra – Longchamp.
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