Opera Ballo back to winning ways in Listed Heron Stakes

Opera Ballo bounced back from his Craven Stakes disappointment with an ultimately comfortable win in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown Park, UK, on Thursday, 29 May.

The Ghaiyyath colt had pulled hard when meeting with a first defeat in the 2,000 Guineas trial and once again raced keenly in fourth on the outside of the seven-strong field.

William Buick managed to find some cover behind the front three leaving the back and the Charlie Appleby-trained three-year-old travelled strongly into contention passing the two-furlong pole.

Bay City Roller and Pellitory quickened from the rear to launch their own challenges, with Opera Ballo taking up the running over a furlong out.

Opera Ballo soon opened up daylight over his rivals and was kept up to his work to beat Bay City Roller by two and a half lengths.

Charlie Appleby said: “We are delighted to get Opera Ballo back on track. He is a colt who we have always held in high regard, but he’s obviously still very raw and there is still a bit of work to be done to make him a top-class horse.

“He is in the St James’s Palace Stakes and we will see how he comes out of the race before discussing as a team whether it’s the right opportunity to step up to that level or we give him more time.”

William Buick added: “It was made harder today for Opera Ballo as we were kept out a little down the back straight. We were adamant that we wanted to teach him something while learning about him ourselves. He broke so quickly but, once I got him in behind, he raced more amenably.

“Given how he raced in the Craven, he did not run a bad race. He is a work in progress, but the engine is there and we need to fine tune him a little bit. He will keep progressing and I thought he took today’s step in his stride.

“For the time being, I would keep him at a mile. I think he will stay a mile and a quarter, but he is quite exuberant and has a turn of foot.”