Prix de l'Opéra

The Prix de l'Opéra is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.

Prix de l'Opéra
Group 1 race
LocationLongchamp Racecourse
Paris, France
Inaugurated1974
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
SponsorLongines
Websitefrance-galop.com
Race information
Distance2,000 metres (1¼ miles)[1]
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed[1]
QualificationThree-years-old and up
fillies and mares[1]
Weight56 kg (3yo); 58 kg (4yo+)[1]
Purse€500,000 (2021)
1st: €285,700[1]
Prix de l'Opéra
2023
Royal blue, white seams, chevrons on sleeves, hooped cap Pink, royal blue cap, pink spots YELLOW and RED CHEVRONS, hooped cap
Blue Rose Cen Jackie Oh Lumiere Rock
Previous years
2022
Silver, gold braid, maroon cap, gold tassel Dark green, white stars on sleeves Dark blue
Place Du Carrousel Nashwa Above The Curve
2021
Yellow, green cross-belts, chevrons on sleeves, stars on cap Light blue, yellow diamond on body Dark blue, yellow armlets and cap
Rougir Grand Glory Eudaimonia
2020-2011
2020
emerald Green, Red epaulettes Dark blue, light blue cross sashes, striped sleeves, white cap Emerald green, red sash, yellow sleeves, red cap
Tarnawa Alpine Star Audarya
2019
Yellow, white and light blue striped sleeves, light blue cap Dark blue Light blue, white epaulets, white and light blue quartered cap
Villa Marina Fleeting Watch Me
2018
Royal blue Royal blue, orange spot, orange striped sleeves, orange striped cap Beige, beige sleeves, white cap
Wild Illusion Magic Wand Homerique
2017
Dark Blue purple, white seams, white stripes on purple sleeves, purple cap Red, green chevron, red sleeves, red cap, green star
Rhododendron Hydrangea Lady Frankel
2016
Black, white spots, black sleeves, white cap Royal blue Pink, grey sash
Speedy Boarding Pleascach So Mi Dar
2015
Orange and white hoops, black cap Black, white spots, black sleeves, white cap White, Emerald green Hoop, White Sleeves, White Cap
Covert Love Jazzi Top We Are
2014
White, Emerald green Hoop, White Sleeves, White Cap White, large black spots, black cap Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap
We Are Ribbons Hadaatha
2013
GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap Royal blue Dark blue, yellow chevron hoop, yellow cap
Dalkala Tasaday Thistle Bird
2012
GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap Black, white spots, black sleeves, white cap Dark Blue, Light Blue hoop and armlets, hooped cap
Ridasiyna Izzi Top Giofra
2011
Yellow, black epaulets Green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap White, purple stripe, check cap
Nahrain Announce Banimpire
2010–2001
2010
Grey, red chevrons, grey sleeves, red cap Orange, large royal blue spots, spots on sleeves and cap Yellow, green sleeves, yellow armlets
Lily Of The Valley Stacelita Fleur Enchantee
2009
GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap Royal Blue, Light Blue cap Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves
Shalanaya Board Meeting Midday
2008
Brown, red cap White, purple stripe, check cap GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Lady Marian Lush Lashes Katiyra
2007
Grey, purple star, star on cap Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves Royal blue, white seams, sleeves and cap
Satwa Queen Promising Lead Legerete
2006
Emerald green, chocolate epaulettes and cap Grey, Maroon star and star on cap Dark blue
Mandesha Satwa Queen Alexandrova
2005
Yellow, black hoop, black sleeves, yellow stars, yellow cap, black star Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap White, dark blue diamond, blue sleeves, white armlets, quartered cap
Kinnaird Mona Lisa Alexander Goldrun
2004
White, dark blue diamond, blue sleeves, white armlets, quartered cap Red, emerald green chevron, emerald green cap Light blue, dark blue and yellow striped sleeves and cap
Alexander Goldrun Grey Lilas Walkamia
2003
Black, white spots, black sleeves, white cap Dark blue Royal Blue, Light Blue cap
Zee Zee Top Yesterday Bright Sky
2002
Royal Blue, Light Blue cap Black, white sleeves, red cap, black star Yellow, Black and Red hooped cap
Bright Sky Irresistible Jewel Marotta
2001
White, black diamond, black seams on sleeves, black cap Yellow, white and yellow striped sleeves, yellow cap, white star Black and white hoops, royal blue cap, white star
Terre A Terre Mot Juste Rebelline
2000–1994
2000
Light blue, dark blue armlets, dark blue cap Red and yellow stripes, black sleeves Black, red sash, quartered cap
Petrushka Reve D'Oscar Lady Upstage
1999
Black, white diamonds on sleeves, diamond on cap Black and yellow stripes, red sleeves Royal blue, white seams, sleeves and cap
Diamond White Miss Berbere Juvenia
1998
Dark blue, light blue cross belts, striped sleeves, white cap Yellow and blue diamonds, blue armlets and cap Light blue and yellow (halved horizontally), light blue sleeves, black cap
Insight Bardonecchia Miscast
1997
Grey, pink cap Emerald green, white sash with yellow piping, emerald green and yellow check sleeves, white cap with pom pom Royal blue, white 'W', black cap
Clodora Squeak La Blue
1996
Dark blue, white stars and sleeves, red cap Royal blue, white 'W', black cap Royal Blue, Light Blue cap
Donna Viola La Blue Sangria
1995
GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap Dark blue, light blue cross belts, striped sleeves, white cap GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Timarida Angel In My Heart Balanka
1994
Orange, grey cross of lorraine, hooped sleeves, orange cap Yellow and light blue (horizontal halves), blue sleeves, black cap Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Andromaque Misbegotten Her Ladyship
 

History

The event was established in 1974, and it was initially classed at Group 2 level. It was originally restricted to three and four-year-old fillies and contested over 1,850 metres.

The race was opened to older mares in 1990. It was extended to 2,000 metres and promoted to Group 1 status in 2000.

The Prix de l'Opéra was added to the Breeders' Cup Challenge series in 2011. The winner now earns an automatic invitation to compete in the same year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.[2]

The race is currently held on the first Sunday in October, the same day as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

  • Athyka – 1988, 1989

Leading jockey (3 wins):

Leading trainer (5 wins):

Leading owner (4 wins):

  • HH Aga Khan IV – Timarida (1995), Shalanaya (2009), Ridasiyna (2012), Dalkala (2013)

Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time
1974 Cheryl 3 Jean-Claude Desaint Freddie Palmer T. Kitano 2:00.50
1975 Sea Sands 3 Yves Saint-Martin Miguel Clément W. J. Salmon Jr. 1:57.60
1976 Dona Barod 4 Maurice Philipperon John Cunnington Jr. Antonio Blasco 2:02.20
1977 Waya 3 Yves Saint-Martin Angel Penna Daniel Wildenstein 1:53.50
1978 Cistus 3 Willie Carson Dick Hern Sir Michael Sobell 2:03.40
1979 Producer 3 Lester Piggott Maurice Zilber Roy Gottlieb 1:56.30
1980 Hortensia 3 Alain Lequeux Olivier Douieb Robert Sangster 1:52.20
1981 Kilmona 3 Yves Saint-Martin Gérald Sauque Mrs Léon Givaudan 2:01.90
1982 Dione 3 Willie Carson John Dunlop Daniel Prenn 1:59.70
1983 Royal Heroine 3 Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute Robert Sangster 1:50.10
1984 Reine Mathilde 3 Freddy Head Criquette Head Ecurie Aland 2:08.10
1985 Bella Colora 3 Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute Helena Springfield Ltd 1:53.50
1986 Secret Form 3 Cash Asmussen Pascal Bary Peter Goulandris 1:53.70
1987 Mona Stella 3 Gary W. Moore Criquette Head Jacques Wertheimer 1:56.50
1988 Athyka 3 Guy Guignard Criquette Head Jacques Wertheimer 1:52.00
1989 Athyka 4 Guy Guignard Criquette Head Jacques Wertheimer 1:56.30
1990 Colour Chart 3 Cash Asmussen André Fabre Sheikh Mohammed 1:54.60
1991 Martessa 3 Terence Hellier Andreas Wöhler Gestüt Hof Heidendom 1:56.30
1992 Hatoof 3 Walter Swinburn Criquette Head Maktoum Al Maktoum 2:02.50
1993 Verveine 4 Olivier Peslier Élie Lellouche Daniel Wildenstein 1:58.90
1994 Andromaque [lower-alpha 1] 4 Pat Eddery Roger Charlton Carlos Stelling 1:53.90
1995 Timarida 3 Johnny Murtagh John Oxx Aga Khan IV 1:55.70
1996 Donna Viola 4 John Reid Chris Wall Kieran Scott 1:55.50
1997 Clodora 3 Thierry Jarnet André Fabre Jean-Luc Lagardère 1:51.10
1998 Insight 3 Cash Asmussen John Hammond Niarchos Family 1:58.60
1999 Diamond White 4 Tim Sprake Mick Ryan Peter Scott 2:02.30
2000 Petrushka 3 Johnny Murtagh Sir Michael Stoute Highclere Racing Ltd 2:02.00
2001 Terre a Terre 4 Christophe Soumillon Eric Libaud Devin / Ashbrooke 2:19.30
2002 Bright Sky 3 Dominique Boeuf Élie Lellouche Ecurie Wildenstein 2:02.30
2003 Zee Zee Top 4 Kieren Fallon Sir Michael Stoute Helena Springfield Ltd 2:08.00
2004 Alexander Goldrun 3 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger Miriam O'Callaghan 2:02.30
2005 Kinnaird 4 Kevin Darley Patrick Haslam Renata Jacobs 2:04.60
2006 Mandesha 3 Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré Zahra Aga Khan 2:00.90
2007 Satwa Queen 5 Thierry Thulliez Jean de Roualle Steven & Gillian Lamprell 2:03.80
2008 Lady Marian 3 Dominique Boeuf Werner Baltromei R'stall Gestüt Hachtsee 2:03.80
2009 Shalanaya 3 Maxime Guyon Mikel Delzangles HH Aga Khan IV 2:01.80
2010 Lily of the Valley 3 Ioritz Mendizabal Jean-Claude Rouget Bernard Barsi 2:09.80
2011 Nahrain 3 Frankie Dettori Roger Varian Ahmed Al Maktoum 2:02.74
2012 Ridasiyna 3 Christophe Lemaire Mikel Delzangles HH Aga Khan IV 2:11.13
2013 Dalkala 4 Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:09.03
2014 We Are 3 Thierry Jarnet Freddy Head George Strawbridge Jr. 2:02.43
2015 Covert Love 3 Pat Smullen Hugo Palmer Fomo Syndicate 2:04.43
2016 Speedy Boarding[lower-alpha 2] 4 Frederik Tylicki James Fanshawe Helena Springfield Ltd 2:02.03
2017 Rhododendron[lower-alpha 2] 3 Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor / Smith 2:03.60
2018 Wild Illusion 3 William Buick Charlie Appleby Godolphin 2:04.32
2019 Villa Marina 3 Olivier Peslier Carlos Laffon-Parias SARL Darpat France 2:09.09
2020 Tarnawa 4 Christophe Soumillon Dermot Weld HH Aga Khan IV 2:12.87
2021 Rougir 3 Maxime Guyon Cedric Rossi Le Haras De La Gousserie 2:11.15
2022 Place Du Carrousel 3 Mickael Barzalona André Fabre Al Shaqab Racing & Ballylinch Stud 2:12.64
2023 Blue Rose Cen 3 Aurelien Lemaitre Christopher Head Yeguada Centurion SL 2:03.71
  1. Erin Bird finished first in 1994, but she was relegated to fifth place following a stewards' inquiry.
  2. The 2016 and 2017 runnings took place at Chantilly while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment.

See also

References
  1. "Prix de l'Opéra". The French Black Type. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  2. "2012 Breeders' Cup Challenge Schedule" (PDF). breederscup.com. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
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