By Sean Cronin
Susan Magnier colourbearer Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was no match for Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) nor Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) when runner-up in the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks, respectively, and bounced back off a seventh in Leopardstown's G1 Matron S. last month to claim Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Opera, a “Win And You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar in November, in game fashion. Positioned in touch racing fifth after the initial exchanges as The Black Princess (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}) clocked the fractions under Arc-winning jockey Frankie Dettori, last term's G1 Moyglare Stud S. third and G1 Fillies' Mile heroine was asked to stretch approaching the final quarter-mile and kept on resolutely under a late drive once hooking up with Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) with 300 metres remaining to deny that stablemate by a head. Lady Frankel (GB) (Frankel {GB}) closed strongly to finish a neck further back in third. “I've just spoken to [part-owner] Michael [Tabor] about sending her to America for the [GI Breeders' Cup] Filly & Mare Turf and I think that will be the plan,” revealed trainer Aidan O'Brien. “She had a bad day the last time she came here [when found to have bled after pulling up in June's G1 Prix de Diane], which stopped her for six weeks and the lads did a great job to get her back. She's all class and we thought she would win the Oaks only for her to run into Enable at Epsom. I'm delighted with Hydrangea and there's a good chance that she could also go for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare.”
Rhododendron is one of three Group winners for G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. heroine Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). All her progeny so far are by Galileo (Ire), including this season's G2 Debutante S. victress and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac fourth Magical (Ire), G3 International S. scorer Flying the Flag (Ire) and a filly foal. Halfway To Heaven is the best of three stakes winners for G2 King's Stand S. heroine and G1 July Cup runner-up Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), whose other daughter Theann (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) landed the G3 Summer S. and produced GI First Lady S. and GI Rodeo Drive S. victress Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Cassandra Go is a half-sister to the G3 Coventry S. victor and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Verglas (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}).
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE L'OPERA LONGINES-G1, €400,000, CHY, 10-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:03.60, sf.
1–RHODODENDRON (IRE), 123, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Fr, $941,139), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto
O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Seamus Heffernan. €228,560. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ire, G1SW-Eng, GSW & G1SP-Ire, 10-4-3-1, €1,016,631. *Full to Magical (Ire), GSW & G1SP-Ire, $175,688, & to Flying the Flag (Ire), GSW-Ire & GSP-SAf, $195,702. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hydrangea (Ire), 123, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Beauty Is Truth (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Beauty Is Truth Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €91,440.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Lady Frankel (GB), 123, f, 3, Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)–Lady Vettori (GB), by Vettori (Ire). O-Gestut Ammerland; B-Ammerland Verwaltung GmbH & Co KG (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €45,720.
Margins: HD, NK, NK. Odds: 9.20, 4.20, 39.00.
Also Ran: Wuheida (GB), Left Hand (GB), Ashiana (Ger), The Black Princess (Fr), Queen's Trust (GB), Lacazar (Ger), Onthemoonagain (Fr), Senga, Melesina (Ire), Shamreen (Ire). Scratched: Silver Step (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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