Prix de l’Opera as a stepping stone to BC Filly & Mare Turf

Tuesday (2022) is the most recent Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner to rebound from a loss in the Prix de l'Opera (G1) (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
While the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) historically has furnished major contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), the Prix de l’Opera (G1) on Arc Day has become a pipeline to the Filly & Mare Turf (G1), especially in recent years.
That association could be strengthened in the Nov. 1 renewal of the Filly & Mare Turf, with a few Opera alumnae currently under consideration for a trip to Del Mar.
The about 1 1/4-mile Opera has furnished four Filly & Mare Turf winners, but interestingly, all had lost in France before rebounding stateside.
Midday set the precedent in 2009 for the late Sir Henry Cecil. Third in the Opera off a two-month break, the Juddmonte homebred moved forward to deliver a rail-skimming burst going 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita.
The Opera proved to be the key race for the 2017 Filly & Mare Turf, serving up the Wuheida-Rhododendron exacta. The Charlie Appleby-trained Wuheida had finished a close fourth to Aidan O’Brien’s Rhododendron on soft going in the Opera, but relished the firm turf at Del Mar – and took advantage of Rhododendron’s being marooned in post 14 – to turn the tables in the Breeders’ Cup.
Wuheida tracks pace in 3rd & storms to clear lead leaving far turn, holds off late run by Rhododendron to win F&M Turf #BC17 pic.twitter.com/KtUwHKECbx
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 4, 2017
It must be noted that 2017 presents a few anomalies. The Opera was held at Chantilly during the redevelopment of ParisLongchamp. The Filly & Mare Turf was contested at 1 1/8 miles that year (and 3-2 favorite Lady Eli was badly hampered in the chute). Moreover, Wuheida was originally going to wheel back from the Opera in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland, only to scratch.
The two most recent Opera graduates to win the Filly & Mare Turf both did so in the 1 3/16-mile version at Keeneland.
Audarya (2020) was coming off a third in the Opera to Tarnawa, who would star in that Breeders’ Cup herself by landing the Turf. Trained by James Fanshawe, Audarya rallied to deny favorite Rushing Fall in a course-record 1:52.72.
Tuesday (2022), sixth on unsuitably soft ground in the Opera, thrived over Keeneland’s firm turf to break Audarya’s course record in 1:51.88. The O’Brien filly gained revenge on the respective second and third in the Opera, Above the Curve, and Nashwa, who closed belatedly. Favored Nashwa checked in a wide-trip fourth, and Above the Curve got up for seventh.
REPLAY: Tuesday wins the $2 Million @MakersMark #BreedersCup Filly & Mare Turf at @keenelandracing! Congrats to all of the connections! pic.twitter.com/bBlwmJeKtm
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 5, 2022
In addition to the quartet of winners, the Opera is responsible for five who placed in the Filly & Mare Turf. Three of them were Opera heroines who went close to turning the double.
Aside from Rhododendron, Nahrain (2011) and Wild Illusion (2018) finished second in 1 3/8-mile editions at Churchill Downs. The Roger Varian-trained Nahrain, 4-for-4 after her photo-finish decision in the Opera, was outstayed by longshot Perfect Shirl. Appleby’s Wild Illusion could not hold off champion Sistercharlie, who collared her by a neck.
The other two placed fillies took third. O’Brien’s Yesterday (2003), who missed by a head in the Opera, rallied from well back for third to Islington at Santa Anita. Queen’s Jewel (2015), ninth off a layoff in the Opera, improved to take third behind Stephanie’s Kitten despite a troubled trip at Keeneland.
Eight of the nine Opera alumnae to factor in the Filly & Mare Turf – three of the four winners and all five placers – were sophomores. The lone exception is the four-year-old Audarya.
Audarya highlights a different angle worth noting, namely, sneaky contenders exiting the Opera. She returned $37.60, while Wuheida furnished $24.40. Even the well-known Tuesday offered some value by paying $10.38. Yesterday (14.70-1) and Queen’s Jewel (13.20-1) enhanced the exotics for bettors aware of their credentials.
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