Rougir singing pretty in Prix De L’Opera
Rougir got up in the shades of the winning line to snatch victory in the Prix De L’Opera Longines from Grand Glory for Maxime Guyon and trainer Cedric Rossi.
Rougir and Maxime Guyon get up in the dying stride to take the Prix De L'Opera Longines
PHOTO: © Tom Williams / JTW Equine Images
Starting at 229/10 after a string of placed efforts this season, she finally got her Group 1 under an enterprising ride from her jockey, who was atoning for what he said “wasn’t the best of rides in the French Guineas”.
Sibila Spain and Olivier Peslier took the field along in the early stages, Joan of Arc and Audarya keeping a close eye on them as the field went around the bend towards the false straight.
However down the false straight Joan Of Arc slipped back a few places, which was a concern as she had won on the ground before, and Ryan Moore was the first jockey off the bridle as the field began to swing for home.
The field fight out the finish to the Prix De L'Opera Longines
PHOTO: © Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images
Swinging in Rougir was just about the backmarker as the pace and tempo increased and the cavalry charge for home began. The eye was drawn to a confident looking Ioritz Mendizabal, who was oozing confidence and breezing up to the leader on Audarya, the favourite seemingly in pole position to surge past and take the win.
With 200 metres to go he pressed the button on the Mare, the result was not what he expected. She didn’t pick up at all, the petrol tank effectively empty. His urgings got more animated, his desperate cracks of the stick recording no response, and with 50 metres to run she was swamped on the outside by Eudaimonia, Grand Glory and the fast finishing Rougir.
Grand Glory grabbed the lead under Frankie Dettori, who was searching for a double on the day, but in the shadows of the post Rougir stuck her neck out to prevail by the tightest of margins.
Cedric Rossi, the winning trainer, spoke post race about his redoubtable filly, who finally lifted the Group 1 prize she threatened to do so, noting to the assembled media that “She always gives everything on the track”.
Rougir and Maxime Guyon get up in the dying stride to take the Prix De L'Opera Longines
PHOTO: © Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images
“She really deserved that and I am absolutely delighted for everyone”.
Pauline Chehboub, representative for Haras de la Gousserie ( owners of Rougir ), confirmed after the race that they plan to head to the Breeders Cup with her next month.
“She is incredible and loves a fight”.
“It’s great to win a Group 1 with her”.
Of the beaten connections, Gianluca Bietolini ( trainer of Grand Glory, the runner-up ) was full of praise for his charge.
“( She ) has run another huge race!”
“This will be her last year in training, and we will have to look at where she goes next. She has been invited to run in the Japan Cup, but nothing has been decided for the moment”.
“We won the Darley Prix Jean Romanet, we won by a nose and today we were beaten by one….. that’s the magic of racing!” A chorus of laughter emanating from this absolutely overjoyed trainer accompanied the words of sheer pride for his charge.
Edouard Monfort, trainer of third placed Eudaimonia, was “very proud” of the mare, and was contemplating future plans for her.
“There is….. the Prix Du Conseil de Paris…. We will see how she comes out of this”.
“We might even think about travelling abroad with her this winter…. Why not?!”
Many, huge and very grateful, thanks to France Galop for the opportunity to cover the meeting, and for the comments from connections post race.
