| Location | Longchamp Racecourse Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1974 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor | Qatar |
| Website | france-galop.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,000 metres (1¼ miles) |
| Track | Turf, right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up fillies & mares |
| Weight | 56 kg (3yo); 58 kg (4yo+) |
| Purse | €250,000 (2009) Distribution 1st: 57.14%, 2nd: 22.86% 3rd: 11.43%, 4th: 5.71% 5th: 2.86% |
The Prix de l'Opéra is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.
The event was established in 1974, and it was initially classed at Group 2 level. During the early part of its history it was contested over 1,850 metres, and it was restricted to three and four-year-old fillies only. The race was opened to older mares in 1990. It was promoted to Group 1 status in 2000, and simultaneously it was extended to 2,000 metres.
The Prix de l'Opéra is held on the same day as the most prestigious event in French racing, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The meeting is scheduled for the first Sunday in October.
Contents |
Leading jockey (3 wins):
Leading trainer (5 wins):
Leading owner (3 wins):
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 1974 | Cheryl | 3 | Jean-Claude Desaint | Freddie Palmer | T. Kitano | 2:00.5 |
| 1975 | Sea Sands | 3 | Yves Saint-Martin | Miguel Clément | W. J. Salmon, Jr. | 1:57.6 |
| 1976 | Dona Barod | 4 | Maurice Philipperon | John Cunnington, Jr. | Antonio Blasco | 2:02.2 |
| 1977 | Waya | 3 | Yves Saint-Martin | Angel Penna, Sr. | Daniel Wildenstein | 1:53.5 |
| 1978 | Cistus | 3 | Willie Carson | Dick Hern | Sir Michael Sobell | 2:03.4 |
| 1979 | Producer | 3 | Lester Piggott | Maurice Zilber | Roy Gottlieb | 1:56.3 |
| 1980 | Hortensia | 3 | Alain Lequeux | Olivier Douieb | Robert Sangster | |
| 1981 | Kilmona | 3 | Yves Saint-Martin | Gérald Sauque | Mrs Léon Givaudan | 2:01.9 |
| 1982 | Dione | 3 | Willie Carson | John Dunlop | D. Prenn | 1:59.7 |
| 1983 | Royal Heroine | 3 | Walter Swinburn | Michael Stoute | Robert Sangster | 1:50.1 |
| 1984 | Reine Mathilde | 3 | Freddy Head | Criquette Head | Ecurie Aland | 2:08.1 |
| 1985 | Bella Colora | 3 | Walter Swinburn | Michael Stoute | Helena Springfield Ltd | 1:53.5 |
| 1986 | Secret Form | 3 | Cash Asmussen | Pascal Bary | Peter Goulandris | 1:53.7 |
| 1987 | Mona Stella | 3 | Gary W. Moore | Criquette Head | Jacques Wertheimer | 1:56.5 |
| 1988 | Athyka | 3 | Guy Guignard | Criquette Head | Jacques Wertheimer | 1:52.0 |
| 1989 | Athyka | 4 | Guy Guignard | Criquette Head | Jacques Wertheimer | 1:56.3 |
| 1990 | Colour Chart | 3 | Cash Asmussen | André Fabre | Sheikh Mohammed | 1:54.6 |
| 1991 | Martessa | 3 | Terence Hellier | Andreas Wöhler | Gestüt Hof Heidendom | 1:56.3 |
| 1992 | Hatoof | 3 | Walter Swinburn | Criquette Head | Maktoum Al Maktoum | 2:02.5 |
| 1993 | Verveine | 4 | Olivier Peslier | Elie Lellouche | Daniel Wildenstein | 1:58.9 |
| 1994 | Andromaque [1] | 4 | Pat Eddery | Roger Charlton | Carlos Stelling | 1:53.9 |
| 1995 | Timarida | 3 | Johnny Murtagh | John Oxx | HH Aga Khan IV | 1:55.7 |
| 1996 | Donna Viola | 4 | John Reid | Chris Wall | Kieran D. Scott | 1:55.5 |
| 1997 | Clodora | 3 | Thierry Jarnet | André Fabre | Jean-Luc Lagardère | 1:51.1 |
| 1998 | Insight | 3 | Cash Asmussen | John Hammond | Niarchos Family | 1:58.6 |
| 1999 | Diamond White | 4 | Tim Sprake | Mick Ryan | Peter Scott | 2:02.3 |
| 2000 | Petrushka | 3 | Johnny Murtagh | Sir Michael Stoute | Highclere Racing Ltd | 2:02.0 |
| 2001 | Terre a Terre | 4 | Christophe Soumillon | Eric Libaud | Devin / Ashbrooke | 2:19.3 |
| 2002 | Bright Sky | 3 | Dominique Boeuf | Elie Lellouche | Ecurie Wildenstein | 2:02.3 |
| 2003 | Zee Zee Top | 4 | Kieren Fallon | Sir Michael Stoute | Helena Springfield Ltd | 2:08.0 |
| 2004 | Alexander Goldrun | 3 | Kevin Manning | Jim Bolger | Miriam O'Callaghan | 2:02.3 |
| 2005 | Kinnaird | 4 | Kevin Darley | Patrick Haslam | Renata Jacobs | 2:04.6 |
| 2006 | Mandesha | 3 | Christophe Soumillon | Alain de Royer-Dupré | Princess Zahra Aga Khan | 2:00.9 |
| 2007 | Satwa Queen | 5 | Thierry Thulliez | Jean de Roualle | Steven & Gillian Lamprell | 2:03.8 |
| 2008 | Lady Marian | 3 | Dominique Boeuf | Werner Baltromei | R'stall Gestüt Hachtsee | 2:03.8 |
| 2009 | Shalanaya | 3 | Maxime Guyon | Mikel Delzangles | HH Aga Khan IV | 2:01.8 |
| 2010 | Lily of the Valley | 3 | Ioritz Mendizabal | Jean-Claude Rouget | Bernard Barsi | 2:09.8 |
| 2011 | Nahrain | 3 | Frankie Dettori | Roger Varian | Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum | 2:02.74 |
1 Erin Bird finished first in 1994, but she was relegated to fifth place following a Stewards' Inquiry.