Opal Tiara wins Gr2 Balanchine at Meydan

17 Feb 2017

Rathasker raised Opal Tiara recorded a career best last summer when winning Glorious Goodwood’s Gr.3 Supreme Stakes over seven furlongs in August for trainer Mick Channon. Put through the ring at the Tattersalls December sale to dissolve the partnership of Qatar Racing and Sweet Partnership, Opal Tiara was signed for by Channon for 230,000gns and resurfaced at Meydan on Jan. 26 under the ownership of The Filly Folly and Sweet Partnership. She was a half length second that day in the Gr.2 Cape Verdi Stakes behind Very Special and firmly turned the tables on that rival on Thursday. Away from the gates handily, Opal Tiara settled back into third as Very Special – who carried a penalty for her Cape Verdi win – and Muffri’Ha battled for the lead. Biding her time in behind Muffri’Ha eventually led the short field around the bend with Very Special pinned to her shoulder, Opal Tiara swung three-wide off the turn and capitalized as the early leaders began to tire, taking over the lead in midstretch and holding off a late rally from Via Firenze. “We should have at least finished closer last time,” said rider Oisin Murphy. “But I looked for an inside run whereas she prefers to see plenty of daylight, as she just demonstrated. She did it well and stayed the trip nicely so perhaps the trainer will keep her at this kind of difference.” Channon added, “We have to be delighted with that but we were pretty confident on the revised terms (in the weights) with Very Special. We will sit down and think but the Gr.1 Dubai Turf could be a target for her on the Dubai World Cup card.”

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