England: Elders, new distance no problem for Opera Singer in Nassau

A new distance of 1 1/4 miles was no problem for the 3-year-old filly Opera Singer in her debut against older fillies and mares in Thursday’s Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in Britain.

The race was part of summer campaign designed to have Opera Singer ready for the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at 1 1/2 miles against older males at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Oct. 6, trainer Aidan O’Brien said.

“There is every chance she will get a mile and a half,” O’Brien told the press. “She’s very classy.”

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Ridden by Ryan Moore, Opera Singer was away sharply to lead a field of nine in the $848,600 Nassau. Opera Singer, who paid $6.60 in American pools, repelled an early threat from 6-1 Elmalka and was fully extended to hold off 18-1 See The Fire to win by a neck.

“I was very confident Opera Singer would stay,” Moore told the press. “She does everything beautifully.”

The French shipper Sparkling Plenty finished third, followed by Elmalka. The first four finishers were 3-year-old fillies. Sparkling Plenty won the Group 1 French Oaks on June 16.

Emily Upjohn, the 3-2 favorite, was last at the midway point and never posed a threat, finishing sixth by 8 ½ lengths.

Opera Singer, owned by the Coolmore syndicate and Georg von Opel, won her second Group 1 race in the $848,600 Nassau Stakes. Last October, won the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac for 2-year-old fillies in France.

Earlier this season, Opera Singer started at a mile in two Group 1 races, finishing third by 4 3/4 lengths in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh on May 26, and a game second by a length in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in Britain on June 21.

O’Brien said Opera Singer had a disrupted training schedule earlier this year.

“I couldn’t believe she was placed in the Irish Guineas,” he said. “She wasn’t ready to be placed, but she got placed.”

Opera Singer, a Kentucky-bred by Justify, has won 4 of 8 starts. She was a Group 3 winner at a mile at the Curragh in Ireland before the Prix Marcel Boussac.

O’Brien indicated Opera Singer will start again before the Arc de Triomphe, possibly in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille at 1 1/2 miles for fillies and mares at Longchamp on Sept. 15.

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