Le Havre’s Villa Marina Prevails in Opera Battle

[Wandering Eyes]

   There was more joy for the French in the G1 Prix de l’Opera Longines as Darpat France’s Villa Marina (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) was to spring an upset under the ParisLongchamp master Olivier Peslier. Fourth last time in the G1 Prix Vermeille over 12 furlongs here Sept. 15, the July 27 G3 Prix de Psyche scorer was keen early under restraint in mid-division but enjoyed a clear run in the straight and after grabbing the leading a furlong from home held on from Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) by a short neck, with Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) 3/4 of a length behind in third. There was a tragic postscript as Ballydoyle’s immaculately-bred Goddess (Camelot {GB}) had to be euthanized after sustaining an injury in the home straight.

“She ran a very good race in the Vermeille, where everyone could see that the trip was too far,” trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias said. “She won in good style today and is a very brave filly who hasn’t stopped improving. She will definitely not stay in training next year, as the owner is a breeder but if all is well in the next few days there is a very good possibility that she will go for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.”

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE L’OPERA LONGINES-G1, €500,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-6, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:09.09, vsf.
1–VILLA MARINA (GB), 123, f, 3, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Briviesca (GB) (MSW & MGSP-US, SW-Fr, $253,555), by Peintre Celebre
2nd Dam: Kimono (Ire), by Machiavellian
3rd Dam: Kiliniski (Ire), by Nibiski
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-SARL Darpat France (FR); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias; J-Olivier Peslier. €285,700. Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-2, €392,570. *1/2 to Aguafria (More Than Ready), SP-Fr & US, $115,372. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fleeting (Ire), 123, f, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Azafata (Spa), by Motivator (GB). (€50,000 Wlg ’16 ARQDEC; €100,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Fernando Bermudez (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €114,300.
3–Watch Me (Fr), 123, f, 3, Olympic Glory (Ire)–Watchful (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€30,000 RNA Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Alexander Tamagni & Mme Regula Vannod; B-Mme Antoinette Tamagni-Bodmer & Cocheese Bloodstock Anstalt (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €57,150.
Margins: SNK, 3/4, NK. Odds: 19.90, 19.00, 9.00.
Also Ran: Commes (Fr), Terebellum (Ire), With You (GB), Ligne d’Or (GB), Pink Dogwood (Ire), Etoile (Fr), Mehdaayih (GB), Cartiem (Fr). DNF: Goddess. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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