France: Friendly Soul gains BC Filly and Mare Turf with Prix de l’Opera triumph

After a Group 3 win in July and a victory in a Group 2 in August, the 3-year-old filly Friendly Soul won her third consecutive start, and first Group 1, in Sunday’s Prix de l’Opera for fillies and mares at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris.

The win may lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 2, co-trainer John Gosden told the press on Sunday. Friendly Soul earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Filly and Mare Turf with Sunday’s win.

Ridden by Kieran Shoemark, Friendly Soul stalked pacesetter Almara for the first mile before taking the lead. Friendly Soul made a sustained run through the final quarter-mile to win by three-quarters of a length over stablemate Running Lion, a 23-1 chance also trained by John Gosden and his son, Thady.

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The $551,400 Prix de l’Opera was run at 1 1/4 miles on a turf course rated very soft.

Running Lion finished three-quarters of a length in front of 7-2 Sparkling Plenty in the field of 11. Fallen Angel, the 3-1 favorite, finished fourth.

Friendly Soul paid $19.80 in American pools. Owned by George Strawbridge Jr., Friendly Soul has won five of six starts. Her only loss was a last-place finish in a field of seven in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at York Racecourse in Britain in May.

By Kingman, Friendly Soul did not race again until she won the Group 3 Valiant Stakes at a mile at Ascot in July. She won the Group 2 Prix Alec Head at 1 1/4 miles for 3-year-old fillies in August at Deauville, France, in her final start before the Prix de l’Opera.

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