Opera Ballo dazzles in Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes

Opera Ballo is on course for Pattern races after easily defying a penalty in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket, UK, on Thursday, 10 July.

 Thanks to a bounce-back win in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown Park, the son of Ghaiyyath carried 3lb more than his six opponents, including Britannia Stakes winner Arabian Story.

 Settled in fifth by William Buick, Opera Ballo improved on the heels of the leaders as stablemate Spectacular View injected some pace at halfway.

 With his rivals under pressure, Opera Ballo quickened into the lead approaching the final furlong and stayed on strongly to beat Seagulls Eleven by just under three lengths.

 Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “I have been very lucky to have some nice horses through the years, including Ghaiyyath himself. Opera Ballo did a piece of work last Saturday and I said to Will, ‘this is the closest I have seen to Ghaiyyath moving up these gallops.’ Ghaiyyath would excite you in the mornings and this horse does as well. I am not saying he will achieve what Ghaiyyath did, but we are on the right road now.

 “Following his two wins on the all-weather, the same races Notable Speech won last year, I got sucked into the Guineas hype and made a mistake of running him in the Craven, when he was very keen and it all went wrong. After that, I wanted to take him to Sandown on the turn and get him to switch off. At home, he is horizontal and you can gallop him in front or behind, whereas at the races he is a different creature.

 “There is a G3 over a mile at Deauville that I have pencilled in. William said he would be quick enough for six furlongs, but he is a miler and we just have to teach him to do things the right way round. He is a horse for next year and we could work back from something like the Queen Anne Stakes.”

 William Buick said: “Opera Ballo has all the ability in the world. He is not necessarily headstrong, he is just a high-tempo horse. Horses were flat out there with three furlongs to run and I was pulling double. Today was a bit smoother for him than Sandown, where he was trapped wide before finding cover and winning well. For now, he is a proper miler, but I would not rule out a mile and a quarter next year.”