Prix de l'Opera could produce a few starters

The North American racing schedule is largely void of major preps this weekend for the $2 million, Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, but in France on Sunday there is a significant race that could produce some Filly and Mare Turf starters: the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp on Arc day.

Tapestry, Tarfasha, Ribbons, Shamkala, and Chiquita are among the leading contenders among the 18 horses in the race as of Wednesday, with Tapestry and Tarfasha appearing the most likely to continue on to the Breeders’ Cup provided they run well.

Tapestry, trained by Aidan O’Brien, is already a Win and You’re In challenge race winner, having scored in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks Aug. 21. That challenge race victory gave her an entry- and expense-paid trip to the Filly and Mare Turf.

She subsequently ran ninth in the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown Sept. 13, although a cutback in distance from 1 ½ miles to a mile may have contributed to her poor performance at 2-1 odds. Her best efforts this year have come at 1 ½ miles, a quarter mile farther than the length of the Filly and Mare Turf and the Prix de l'Opera.

Tarfasha, on the other hand, excels at 1 ¼ miles on turf, having won two races at that distance this year, including the Sept. 14 Blandford Stakes, a Group 2. Although not yet a challenge race winner, her trainer Dermot Weld is reportedly keen to try her in the Filly and Mare Turf.

A Prix de l'Opera victory, in addition to the notable prestige of winning that race, would provide her with a free pass to the Breeders’ Cup, with it being a Win and You’re In challenge event.

Ribbons is another winner at 1 ¼ miles, having scored in the Group 1 Jean Romanet at Longchamp, although she seems to prefer soft going, historically unlikely conditions at Santa Anita in Southern California in early November.

Saturday’s Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland could conceivably produce a Filly and Mare Turf starter, though with that race being a mile, it largely drew horses specialized at racing short routes.