Opera Singer Takes Nassau Stakes Crown
Opera Singer (3f Justify – Liscanna, by Sadler’s Wells) produced an impressive front-running performance to land the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at the Goodwood Festival.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly proved her brilliance when drawing five lengths clear in the Prix Marcel Boussac and returned to finish third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, before going one better in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes. Stepping up to ten furlongs for the first time on Thursday, she began to pick up the pace from five furlongs out and faced challenges entering the final furlong. She stayed on strongly under Ryan Moore’s urging to win by a neck.
The performance saw her shortened to 5-1 for the Yorkshire Oaks and earned quotes of 12-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
After winning the Nassau Stakes for a fifth time, O’Brien said, “We had an interrupted spring with her and I couldn't believe she placed in the Irish Guineas because she was barely ready for a racecourse gallop. She then ran a great race behind a very good filly at Ascot and Ryan was over the moon.
“We thought Opera Singer and City Of Troy were the best colt and filly we've ever had as two-year-olds last year. When Ryan got off her after the Boussac last year he said she'd win the Arc. She's very classy. She'll have to have another race before then and could go for a fillies' contest in France, such as the Prix Vermeille.”
Bred by Mrs Evie Stockwell, Opera Singer is one of three Group/Grade 1 winners out of Group 3 heroine Liscanna (Sadler’s Wells). The daughter of Justify completed a quickfire double for Ballydoyle, Coolmore and Westerberg, with Jan Brueghel (3c Galileo – Devoted To You, by Danehill Dancer) successful in the preceding Group 3 Gordon Stakes.
The Barronstown-bred bay battled to extend his unbeaten record to three and now leads the St Leger market with stablemate Los Angeles.
Dreamy (2f American Pharoah – Tapestry, by Galileo) completed a treble for the team when making a taking debut in the seven furlong fillies’ maiden, a race previously won by connections with Rhododendron (Galileo).
The daughter of American Pharoah was sent off favourite under Ryan Moore and overcame inexperience to lead close home, going on to win by a neck. The Coolmore and Flaxman Stables homebred is a half-sister to Group performer New World Tapestry (War Front), out of the Group 1 winning Galileo mare Tapestry.