Longshot Place du Carrousel Secures Prix de l'Opera

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Longshot Place du Carrousel Secures Prix de l'Opera
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Photo: Zuzanna Lupa Photography
Place du Carrousel wins the Prix de l'Opera Longines at Longchamp

A heroic front-running effort from star filly Nashwa  came up just short in the Prix de l'Opera Longines (G1) as a sprinkling of Mickael Barzalona magic saw 66-1 shot Place du Carrousel  pull off a shocking success for Andre Fabre Oct. 2 at Longchamp.

It was a case of winning the battle but losing the war for Hollie Doyle on 2-1 favorite Nashwa, who appeared to have put the race to bed a furlong out after a prolonged battle with Oaks scorer Tuesday . Nashwa traded as low as 1-2 in-running on Betfair.

Barzalona had the final say, though, as he galvanized a determined effort out of Place du Carrousel to swoop wide and conquer by three-quarters of a length in the final strides of a high-quality group 1.

The unlikely victory gave Fabre and Barzalona a 1,138-1 double with Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) winner Belbek on European racing's biggest day. The trainer is now sizing up a crack at the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) with the 3-year-old winner, who is owned by Al Shaqab Racing and Ballylinch Stud.

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A group 3 winner in the Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud in April, Place du Carrousel showed significant potential when runner-up to Above the Curve  in the St Mark's Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (G1) in May but missed 105 days after finishing well down the field behind Nashwa in the Prix de Diane Longines (G1).

"She was a big price, but you have to run and have to try—it's racing," said Fabre.

"She has always shown a lot, but the (softer) ground probably made the difference. We had been waiting for an autumn campaign with her. She got a little sore after the summer ground and just needed a bit of time. I was pleased with her."

Betfair Sportsbook introduced the winner at 8-1 for her potential Keeneland assignment on Nov. 5.

The Prix de l'Opera Longines is a Breeders' Cup Challenge race whose winner receives an automatic qualifying position, and fees paid, into the 2022 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) on World Championship weekend.

Fabre added: "She's a big, scopey filly with a pedigree that suggests she will train on. The Breeders' Cup could be an option for her next. If not, she will probably stay in training and run over a mile and a half next season. She should have some good options."

Nashwa's joint-trainer, John Gosden, was left to rue a wide draw for his group 1 hat-trick seeker.

Gosden said: "She ran a blinder, a wonderful race. She didn't get much of a breather. We were drawn in stall 13 and Tuesday (who faded to sixth) had a horrible draw as well in stall 16. They both had to make a lot of use of themselves early and it costs you at the other end when you're beaten by a horse from a lower draw (in stall 8), but that's racing. I have no idea at this stage as to whether she'll have another run this season."

Joseph O'Brien could also be Keeneland-bound with third-placed Above the Curve, who stayed on to be beaten just three-quarters of a length.

O'Brien said: "We'd like the ground a bit better for her, but we're proud of her run. She looks like a 4-year-old type (for next season) and we'll have a think about whether she might go to the Breeders' Cup next."