A mile-and-a-quarter clash of generations takes place in the highly-anticipated Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp on Sunday.
Form lines from all over France, Britain and Ireland come together, pitching three-year-old fillies in against their older counterparts to test the mettle of the Classic generation.
Youth has come out on top more often than not down the years -- three-year-olds have won this 19 times since the turn of the century -- but there is a five-year-old who finds herself at the head of affairs this time around.
That five-year-old in question is the classy Aventure (11/10), who skips the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the first time in two years after failing to capture the middle-distance showpiece. The daughter of Sea The Stars finished runner-up to Bluestocking in 2024, but failed to get into the race last year when fading in 11th. She is an altogether different proposition back in against her own sex, winning her last five starts in fillies company.
In opposition is Classic-winning star Precise (7/2), sent over by Aidan O'Brien after four consecutive defeats in Group 1 company over a mile. Ballydoyle have always been adamant that she will cope with the extra distance just fine and the way that she races does suggest that she will get a little further.
Pink Panthera (9/2) is another from the Classic generation hoping the capitalise on the handy weight allowance that she gets from her elders. Runner-up finishes behind Diamond Necklace, Behrayna and Friendly Soul on her last three visits to the track read fairly well on paper and the drop back to 1m2f should suit.
Prix l'Opera confirmed runners
- Cankoura
- Aventure
- Pink Panthera
- Timeforshowcasing
- Venetian Lace
- Beautify
- Jennifer Jane
- Precise
- Miss Scott
Prix l'Opera betting odds
(Odds will display when market is available)
Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
