Dubawi’s Wild Illusion Too Good In the Opera

[Wandering Eyes]

   Bursting on to the scene at Chantilly 12 months ago when capturing the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac with an impressive time performance, TDN Rising Star Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) also made ParisLongchamp her own on Sunday as she proved too strong in the G1 Prix de l’Opera Longines. Freshened up since winning the G1 Nassau S. over this trip at Goodwood Aug. 2, the 13-5 favourite proved reluctant to load but once out of the gates was taken back from a frantic pace battle involving her pacemaker Winter Lightning (Ire) (Shamardal) and last year’s winner Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to race in fifth. Sent to the lead passing the quarter pole by William Buick as Ryan Moore got a rail run on old rival Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the homebred kept up the wattage to hit the line a length to the good as Godolphin came out on top in a second afternoon battle with Ballydoyle. Magic Wand held off Homerique (Exchange Rate) by a nose.

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE L’OPERA LONGINES-G1, €500,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:04.32, gd.
1–WILD ILLUSION (GB), 123, f, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Rumh (Ger) (SW-Eng), by Monsun (Ger)
2nd Dam: Royal Dubai (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
3rd Dam: Reem Dubai (Ire), by Nashwan
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €285,700. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 8-4-2-1, €1,059,584. *1/2 to Really Special (GB) (Shamardal), SW-Eng & SP-UAE, $108,180; and Ceratonia (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), GSP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Magic Wand (Ire), 123, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Prudenzia (Ire), by Dansili (GB). (€1,400,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Markus Jooste; B-Ecurie des Monceaux & Skymarc Farm Inc (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €114,300.
3–Homerique, 123, f, 3, Exchange Rate–Chiquita Picosa, by Congaree. ($34,000 RNA Wlg ’15 KEENOV; 22,000gns RNA Ylg ’16 TATOCT; €75,000 2yo ’17 ARQMAY). O-Ecurie de Montlahuc; B-Nicolas & Francois Drion (KY); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €51,750.
Margins: 1, NO, 1HF. Odds: 2.60, 5.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: With You (GB), Well Timed (Ger), My Sister Nat (Fr), Navaro Girl (Ire), Athena (Ire), Urban Fox (GB), Lady Frankel (GB), Castellar (Fr), Rhododendron (Ire), L’Arc (Jpn), Desert Diamond (GB), Winter Lightning (Ire). Scratched: Night of England (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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