(photo credit: Emirates Racing Authority - Opera Ballo winning the G1 Jebel Hatta)
The rise of Opera Ballo gathered further momentum on British soil, as the Godolphin colt produced a dominant performance to claim Group 2 honours at Sandown Park.
Now a winner of three consecutive races, his latest success was as authoritative as it was impressive. Breaking sharply and utilising his trademark early speed, Opera Ballo controlled proceedings from the outset, travelling smoothly and never allowing his rivals a genuine opportunity to challenge.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, the victory came against a high quality field and carried an element of surprise, with Opera Ballo comfortably accounting for dual Group 1 winner Field Of Gold, as well as the talented Zeus Olympios.
The son of Ghaiyyath now looks set for a French stint, with connections targeting the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan, recently renamed the Prix Aga Khan IV, over 1800 metres. The distance holds no concerns, having already proven his effectiveness over the trip at Meydan, where he secured two victories this season, including a breakthrough Group 1 triumph in the Jebel Hatta.
Having opened his account with a pair of Listed wins in the UK, Opera Ballo’s winter campaign in the United Arab Emirates has served as a springboard to elite-level success. That Dubai preparation yielded both a Group 2 and his first Group 1, before his return to Europe has been marked by continued dominance.
With seven wins from nine starts, Opera Ballo is emerging as a prime example of the modern international racehorse, that is one who is developed across jurisdictions and thriving within a global campaign.
