'All she wants is rain and she'll get it' - Haggas sounds right note for Opera

Sunday: 3.50 Longchamp
Prix de l'Opera Longines (Group 1) | 1m2f | 3yo+ fillies and mares) | Sky

Wide draws are often cited as a negative around Longchamp but that hasn't stopped the last two winners of the Prix de l'Opera, both of whom overcame stall 14.

Yet enthusiasm about favourite Nashwa has presumably cooled following news of her draw in box 13 and her chance is complicated further by a lack of forecast pace in the race.

While Nashwa disputed the lead when capturing the Prix de Diane two starts ago, adopting such a track position may prove problematic for Hollie Doyle. Her mount was also held up when landing the Nassau last time and this looks a better race.

The supplementing of Trevaunance adds intrigue to the Opera on two counts. Firstly, this unexposed type has a highly progressive profile and secondly, her impressive success in the Group 2 Prix de la Nonette demonstrated her suitability for setting the fractions. She is the only filly in the field with recent front-running form.

Trevaunance is drawn in stall 11 and assuming the lead in the early skirmishes will be difficult, but she has the tools to spring a surprise if Shane Foley can position her accordingly. Testing ground is an unknown but Muhaarar's progeny tend to appreciate an ease.

The only real fancied runner drawn low is Above The Curve in stall five and she has plenty in her favour.

This powerful daughter of American Pharoah caught the eye from an aesthetic perspective when dwarfing the year-older La Petite Coco as she moved upsides in the Blandford Stakes on her return from 105 days off last time.

La Petite Coco eventually threw in the towel and it is to Above The Curve's credit she found extra when a new challenger emerged in race-fit mare Insinuendo, who reopposes off 2lb worse terms.

The negativity surrounding Above The Curve in the market at the Curragh suggests better can be expected at Longchamp and the fact Ryan Moore rides her rather than Classic-winning filly Tuesday, also owned by Coolmore, is a major vote of confidence.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

'It has always been the plan to come here'

A high draw won't help Nashwa and joint-trainer John Gosden has raised the testing ground as another complicating factor in his filly's bid for a third successive Group 1 prize.

Nashwa has yet to encounter soft or heavy ground, although her dam Princess Loulou was a Listed winner on heavy.

Gosden said: "She's not drawn the best in 13 from 16, but she's been in good form at home of late and it has always been the plan to come here after Goodwood.

"The ground is an unknown as she's raced on mainly good ground to date, including in the French Oaks when they said it was good to soft but it was nearer good ground."

British or Irish contenders have won five of the last seven runnings of the Opera and Above The Curve, Tuesday, My Astra and Trevaunance add further depth to the travelling party.

Moore won the Oaks on Tuesday but instead rides the Joseph O'Brien-trained Above The Curve, who defied a 3lb penalty to win last month's Group 2 Blandford Stakes on her first start since May.

"She's in good shape since she won at the Curragh," O'Brien said. "That set her up lovely for this race and I'm happy with her draw. I'm a little bit worried about the bad ground for her."

What they say

Mikel Delzangles, trainer of Jupyra
It all went wrong last time when she pulled too hard and didn't really breathe properly. She was second the time before that and she will love the ground. She's fresh and in form, so we're giving it a go.

William Haggas, trainer of My Astra
All she wants is rain and she's going to get it at last. She's fine and she'll run well in what I think is a very strong race. Quite a few of the fancied ones are drawn wider than her. so we'll see.

Andre Fabre, trainer of Agave, Place Du Carrousel and Mqse De Sevigne
They're all Group 3 fillies that will have to improve to win, but they're nice fillies who deserve to take their chance.

Yann Lerner, joint-trainer of La Parisienne
I'm actually not too worried about being drawn in 15, with Nashwa in 13, and I think that with the rain we're due overnight and Sunday afternoon, you might be better off coming down the outside than on the rail. She's in great form.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Tuesday
She seems to be in very good form. The last day [Prix Vermeille] was a bit of a mess as she had a bad draw and was trapped wide. She seems to have come forward nicely at home since then.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Trevaunance
It's a good chance for her to run in a Group 1, so we're rolling the dice. She's always looked a nice filly and has gone from strength to strength in her last few runs.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

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