Breeders' Cup Possible for Rougir After Opera Thriller

If the Prix de l'Opera Longines (G1) was meant to serve as a comedown after a spectacular Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) the key participants certainly did not read the script as Rougir  prevailed in a thrilling finish to provide French trainer Cedric Rossi with a first group 1 success Oct. 3 at ParisLongchamp.

Frankie Dettori had been in pole position to claim a second victory of the afternoon on Darley Prix Jean Romanet (G1) winner Grand Glory  only to be collared on the line by the 3-year-old Rougir, who flourished in the testing underfoot conditions to fly home from the back of the field.

The pair crossed the line almost in tandem, and after a lengthy examination of the photo-finish Rougir was declared the winner by a nose under Maxime Guyon. She could now look to emulate last year's Opera winner Tarnawa  in carrying her form on to the Breeders' Cup.

Rougir secured a berth in the Nov. 6 Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Del Mar by winning the Opera, part of the international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

This was the culmination of a long season for Rougir, which has seen her compete in many of the top French fillies' contests without getting her nose in front.

It also caps a superb campaign for Rossi, whose prolific stayer Skazino  was fourth in Saturday's Qatar Prix du Cadran (G1), and he said: "She wasn't drawn ideally, but she is just phenomenal.

"The Breeders' Cup could be next. The faster they go the better for her. She wants to go a mile pace, but stays 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles). America should suit her and she goes on any ground, as all the good ones do."

He added: "She has not been beaten far several times when there hasn't been enough pace on this year, and fortunately it went our way here."

Grand Glory confirmed the promise of her breakthrough victory in the Prix Jean Romanet in August, and her trainer Gianluca Bietolini was disappointed but magnanimous after a finish which was almost a carbon copy of her Deauville success.

He said: "I'm disappointed for the mare who is so brave and who has run a spectacular race. Dettori rode her magnificently. We won a Prix Jean Romanet by a nose and have lost here by the same. That's racing."

The James Fanshawe-trained favorite Audarya , looking to improve from her third place last year, had looked the likely winner entering the home straight as she cruised into contention under a motionless Ioritz Mendizibal.

However, she could not maintain her challenge and faded to finish fourth, while Aidan O'Brien's Prix de Diane Longines (G1) winner Joan of Arc  disappointed in 10th.