Opera Ballo leads home sea of blue in G2 Al Rashidiya
Opera Ballo registered a first Group-race success with a commanding victory over Nations Pride and First Conquest in the G2 Al Rashidiya on Friday, 19 December.
Lining up at Meydan for the first time having won four of his six starts in the UK, the Charlie Appleby-trained three-year-old raced in fourth of the seven runners early in the nine-furlong turf feature before moving up to a clear third after a furlong and a half.
Four-time G1 winner Nations Pride kept close tabs on leader Miss Of Change and moved up to hit the front at the top of the straight, with Opera Ballo travelling ominously into the race behind the front two.
Angled out by William Buick soon after, Opera Ballo quickened powerfully to head stablemate Nations Pride over a furlong from home and the Ghaiyyath colt streaked clear under a hands and heels ride for a convincing win.
Nations Pride kept on in second, three lengths in arrears, with First Conquest making headway in the straight to take third, a further two and a quarter lengths back.
Charlie Appleby said: “Opera Ballo’s biggest challenge is himself once he has come out of the gates. We were keen tonight for William to get him in behind a horse to try and teach him to settle. He is a hard horse because at home he is horizontally laidback, whereas at the races he is a different beast. The team at home have done a great job and William had a lot of confidence in the horse. I think we saw the Opera Ballo we always hoped to see.
“They have gone nice, even fractions and I think he is entitled to come forward for that. I would imagine the most natural place to go now is the Jebel Hatta to see whether he is good enough to be a Dubai World Cup Night horse.”
William Buick said: “The race set up better for Opera Ballo as he had cover, which was crucial stepping up a furlong in trip. We wanted to learn something tonight and came here wanting to teach Opera Ballo something as well. I think the race should bring him forward.
“I loved the way he accelerated and had plenty left at the line. We all know how good Nations Pride is – he is a proper horse – and Opera Ballo fairly put him to bed. We always thought Opera Ballo was a horse worthy of going to the top level at some stage and I think tonight he showed that he is on the way there.”
Mysterious Night times it right in Listed Business Bay Challenge
Mysterious Night picked up another win over Meydan’s seven-furlong turf course as he collared Khanjar close home in the Listed Business Bay Challenge on Friday, 19 December.
The G1-winning five-year-old had finished first or second in all but one of his five previous course and distance appearances for Charlie Appleby, including winning a handicap and the G2 Al Fahidi Fort at the start of 2024.
Making his first start since March, Mysterious Night was smartly into his stride and tracked Giustino and Khanjar in third. William Buick closed to press the leading duo just inside the final furlong, with Mysterious Night getting the measure of a rallying Khanjar near the line for a head verdict.
Charlie Appleby said: “Mysterious Night’s homework had been good and, as we know, he was a consistent horse here last winter without getting his head in front, so I felt once William gave him the office, it was his chance to go and do it tonight. Full credit to the horse, jockey, and team out here for getting him ready.
“I was fairly confident that Mysterious Night was fit coming into this evening, although you cannot beat having a race under your belt. We will see what Will says in terms of whether we stay at this trip or step up for the Zabeel Mile.”
William Buick said: “Mysterious Night gave me everything tonight and that bit of give underfoot probably helped him. He ran well out here last winter in a couple of races, when things did not really go his way, whereas today he jumped well and I was able to put him where he needed to be. I know he did not win by far, but I always felt that I was going to get past.”
by Godolphin
