Barnavara Prevails In Blanket Finish To The Opera

[Wandering Eyes]

Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines had an open feel beforehand and there was a predictable bunch finish with Alpha Racing's Barnavara (Calyx) hanging on to clinch victory from See The Fire (Sea The Stars). Sent forward by Shane Foley to dictate, the Jessica Harrington-trained three-year-old who had been impressive in last month's Blandford kept digging in as threats emerged on either side to prevail by a short neck at 9-1.

Less than a length covered the first five home, with One Look (Gleneagles) getting third, a short head behind See The Fire. This is an automatic qualifier for the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

“This was always my main ride today and she has improved all year,” Foley said. “She wears her heart on her sleeve and I've been saying all year she's very good–she's just learning how to relax and race now. She was a big girl at two and has matured now.”

BARNAVARA WINS THE GROUP ONE LONGINES PRIX DE L'OPERA! #QPAT pic.twitter.com/EmTzWFiZYm

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 5, 2025

 

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE L'OPERA LONGINES-G1, €500,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-5, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:05.52, vsf.
1–BARNAVARA (IRE), 123, f, 3, by Calyx (GB)
                1st Dam: Alfea (GB), by Kentucky Dynamite
                2nd Dam: Askania Nova (Ire), by New Approach (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Bal De La Rose (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€70,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Alpha Racing; B-Andriy Milovonov & Viktor Tymoshenko; T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. €285,700. Lifetime Record: MGSW-Ire, 13-5-0-5, €533,475. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–See The Fire (GB), 128, f, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Arabian Queen (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire). O-J C Smith; B-Littleton Stud; T-Andrew Balding. €114,300.
3–One Look (Ire), 128, f, 4, Gleneagles (Ire)–Holy Salt (GB), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€40,000 RNA Wlg '21 GOFNO1; €65,000 Ylg '22 GOFOR). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Tullpark Ltd; T-Paddy Twomey. €57,150.
Margins: SNK, SHD, SNK. Odds: 9.80, 3.40, 13.00.
Also Ran: Wemightakedlongway (Ire), Grand Stars (Ire), Tamfana (Ger), Start Of Day (GB), Nicoreni (Ger), Royal Dress (Ire), Qilin Queen (Ire), January (Ire), Merveilleux Lapin (Ire).

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