Favored at 2-1 in an 18-horse field, Highfield Princess (FR) looked an unlikely winner at the halfway stage of the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (G1) Sunday at ParisLongchamp on the Qatar Prix de l'Arc card, but rallied to gain the advantage under jockey Jason Hart. The John Quinn trainee gained an automatic berth into the $1-million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) in November at Santa Anita.
Taking advantage of the rail, George Boughey's Perdika (GB) set a strong pace. But as Perdika began to lose her advantage, Highfield Princess surged, and the 6-year-old daughter of Night Of Thunder (IRE) was able to hold on strongly to win by one length, with Perdika in second.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Aesop's Fables (IRE), the Clive Cox-trained Get Ahead (GB) and the rapidly improving Tom Clover-trained Rogue Lightning (IRE) were finishing fast, and took the third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.
Highfield Princess, owned by Trainers House Enterprises Ltd., completed the five furlongs in :55.07 to earn her ninth career win. She finished fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland.
Opera Singer Dominates Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac
Opera Singer delivered a standout performance in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac – Criterium des Pouliches (G1), galloping clear to a five-length victory under jockey Ryan Moore.
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Westerberg's Kentucky-bred daughter of Justify was very responsive when Moore asked her to quicken near the two-furlong marker, having led most of the way in the 1-mile affair, and left Rose Bloom (IRE) in second, followed by Les Pavots (IRE) in third.
Opera Singer, bred by the late Evie Stockwell, completed the mile in 1:36.40 and gained an automatic berth into the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
Trainer Aidan O'Brien, who saddled his fifth Marcel Boussac winner, said: “We've been excited with her. Ryan said she was very straightforward and she really appreciated the step up to a mile like we thought she would. I thought she was very strong all the way to the line and it was an impressive performance. Being on nicer ground helped her put in that performance.”
On a trip to the Breeders' Cup, he added: “It's very possible, obviously it will depend on what the lads [ownership connections] want to do, but she is by Justify and has plenty of experience if they want to go there.”
Rosallion Impresses In Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere
An eye-catching winner following a disappointing run in the Sept. 16 Betfred Champagne Stakes (G2) at Doncaster, Rosallion (IRE) provided jockey Sean Levey with his first international group 1 victory when he landed the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) for 2-year-old colts and fillies.
The Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor-owned Henry Adams (IRE) set the pace in the day's opening race, with Ballymount Boy (IRE) close behind. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Unquestionable (FR) was in third and the Richard Hannon-trained Rosallion and Philippe Allaire & Haras D'Etreham's well-fancied Beauvatier (FR) were held up towards the rear.
Beauvatier moved to the outside at the 3-furlong marker and made a move 2 furlongs out but was no match for Rosallion, who made impressive headway and pulled clear in the final stages to win by a length with Unquestionable second and Beauvatier third.
Rosallion gained an automatic berth into the $1-million Prevagen Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). The Blue Point colt completed the seven-furlong contest in 1:18.23 over a course listed as good to soft.
Trainer Richard Hannon said: “It was very sticky ground at Doncaster and he hated it, but I was so disappointed – I couldn't believe he got beat. We scoped him afterwards and everything was fine and the only thing I can put it down to was the ground. Today was a recovery mission and you don't generally come to the Lagardere on a recovery mission as it takes an extremely good horse to win it, but he showed today that he's the horse we thought he was.”
Blue Rose Cen Dominates Prix de l'Opera Longines
The Christopher Head-trained Blue Rose Cen (IRE), last year's winner of the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches (G1), scored a neck victory over Jackie Oh (IRE) to win the 1 1/4-mile Prix de l'Opera Longines (G1) for fillies and mares. Owned by Yeguada Centurion SL, Blue Rose Cen earned an automatic berth into the $2-million Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
The Michael O'Flynn-owned daughter of Saxon Warrior (JPN) Lumiere Rock (IRE) was prominent throughout, and held the lead until the 400-meter mark before the Aidan O'Brien trained Jackie Oh surged in front with Blue Rose Cen ranging to her outside.
The pace quickened inside the final 2 furlongs where the leading group battled it out until Blue Rose Cen edged away and crossed the line in front by a neck with Jackie Oh in second. Lumiere Rock finished third.
Blue Rose Cen completed the 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.71.
Winning trainer Christopher Head said: “You never know if they can be running in the Prix Vermeille [Sept. 10 prep race at ParisLongchamp] and still get it back in the Opera – what a filly. For sure she will stay in training at four. She's nominated for the Breeders' Cup, but we will have to discuss that.”
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the Challenge Series races to start at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 23 to receive the rewards.
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