Audarya Takes Second Run at Prix de l'Opera

With a furlong to run in last year's Prix de l'Opera Longines (G1), Audarya  looked set to follow up her first top-level success in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet (G1) and provide Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe with his second win in this race after Speedy Boarding's 2016 score.

After traveling smoothly, Ioritz Mendizibal produced her towards the far side of the track and she briefly put her head in front. There is no denying she battled all the way to the line on heavy ground, but she went down by just a length when passed close to home by star fillies Tarnawa  and Alpine Star . With Tarnawa a leading fancy for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), Audarya looks well placed to go two places better than last year as she attempts to land a third group 1 success.

Bleak weather forecasts indicate the ground will be even deeper this year, which could prove an issue for last year's third. For all that she went through the mud, Audarya certainly wasn't able to showcase the turn of foot we witnessed on firm ground at Keeneland on her next start, when she won the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T). Wootton Bassett's progeny don't tend to appreciate too much cut, either.

The winner of the Opera will receive a berth in this year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Audarya enters this year's edition of the Opera Oct. 3 on the back of a winless campaign, but was headed only in the final stride by the reopposing Grand Glory  in the Romanet at Deauville in August, and the pair are sure to be closely matched once again off identical weights.

"She's in good shape and I think her draw in three is probably better than being stuck on the outside," trainer James Fanshawe said of the 5-year-old mare, who was just three-quarters of a length behind Love  in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot back in June. "It was very firm ground when she won the Breeders' Cup but she's run well on every type of ground and that won't be a problem.

"There are 15 runners and you just hope you get a smooth passage but we'll let Ioritz Mendizabal get on with it. She traveled over well and is ready to go."

Runners from Britain or Ireland have won five of the last six runnings of the Opera and Audarya is joined in the field by Thundering Nights , Joan of Arc , and Zeyaadah .

Joan of Arc enjoyed her finest hour when landing the Prix de Diane Longines (G1) at Chantilly in June but was seventh in the Sept. 12 Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1).

"We thought there was a chance she wouldn't get a mile and a half last time, but we had to try it," trainer Aidan O'Brien said of the 3-year-old daughter of Galileo. "We think that was the reason for the disappointing run but she's very comfortable at a mile and a quarter.

"She's uncomplicated, genuine, and won't mind an ease in the ground."

Since the turn of the century, 3-year-olds have won 14 editions of this race.

Andre Fabre, who hasn't won this race since 1997, has a good chance with Vermeille fourth Burgarita . The similarly unexposed Frankel  filly Sibila Spain , who finished fourth in the Diane behind Joan of Arc, may be best suited by testing conditions.