Godolphin’s Opera Ballo To Swerve Dubai Turf In Favour Of Summer Campaign

[Wandering Eyes]

Charlie Appleby's Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath) will skip an intended start in the G1 Dubai Turf at the end of March and instead will be pointed to a summer campaign. The Racing Post first reported the news.

The winner of the G1 Jebel Hatta earlier this year, the son of Ghaiyyath was set to face fellow Godolphin runner and Group 1 winner Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) in the contest.

Appleby told the publication, “Opera Ballo is in good shape but I don't think a full field of 14 runners going around a bend is really his bag, especially as he could get a wide draw, so he won't be going for the Dubai Turf. We'll map out a summer campaign for him.”

Ombudsman, meanwhile is pleasing trainers John and Thady Gosden and enjoyed a gallop at Newmarket on Wednesday morning. The G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes hero and G1 Juddmonte International winner was second in the G1 Champion Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day in October.

Thady Gosden said, “Ombudsman has been around here twice now to have a feel of the grass and we have long had the Dubai Turf on his agenda. Nine furlongs on turf looks the right place to start his season off.

“He had a great year last year when landing two Group 1s and we hope he can make it three, but I'm sure it will be a tough race, as it always is, with a strong international presence.”

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