Prix de l'Opéra

Turf race infobox
class = Group 1
horse race = Prix de l'Opéra


caption =
location = Longchamp Racecourse
Paris, France
inaugurated = 1974
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat race
sponsor = Qatar Petroleum
website = [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1527&no_cache=1&numero_id=14 France-Galop.com]
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 "(2008)"
Distribution
1st: 57.14%, 2nd: 22.86%
3rd: 11.43%, 4th: 5.71%
5th: 2.86%
bonuses = The Prix de l'Opéra is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares which are three-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,000 metres (approximately 1¼ miles) at Longchamp Racecourse, and it takes place annually in early October.

The race was first run in 1974, and it initially held Group 2 status. The distance was originally set at 1,850 metres, and the race was restricted to three and four-year-old fillies only. In 1990 the event was opened to all fillies and mares aged three-years-old or above. It was promoted to Group 1 level, the highest grade, in 2000.

Throughout its history the Prix de l'Opéra has always taken place on the same day as the most prestigious event in French racing, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The meeting is traditionally scheduled for the first Sunday in October.

The fastest winning time in the race over 1,850 metres was 1m 50.1s. This was recorded by Royal Heroine in 1983. The fastest time since it was extended to 2,000 metres is 2m 00.9s, which was achieved by Mandesha in 2006.

Records

Leading jockey (3 wins):
* Yves Saint-Martin – "Sea Sands (1975), Waya (1977), Kilmona (1981)"
* Walter Swinburn – "Royal Heroine (1983), Bella Colora (1985), Hatoof (1992)"
* Cash Asmussen – "Secret Form (1986), Colour Chart (1990), Insight (1998)"----Leading trainer (5 wins):
* Criquette Head-Maarek – "Reine Mathilde (1984), Mona Stella (1987), Athyka (1988, 1989), Hatoof (1992)"----Leading owner (3 wins):
* Jacques Wertheimer – "Mona Stella (1987), Athyka (1988, 1989)"

Winners

note label|1994|1|1 Erin Bird finished first in 1994 but was relegated to fifth place following a Stewards' Inquiry.

References

* [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=1527&no_cache=1&numero_id=14 France-Galop.com]
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=560 PedigreeQuery.com]
* Racing Post:
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=93666&r_date=1988-10-2 1988] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=97840&r_date=1989-10-8 1989] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=102526&r_date=1990-10-7 1990] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=107337&r_date=1991-10-6 1991] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=112229&r_date=1992-10-4 1992] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=117249&r_date=1993-10-3 1993] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=122428&r_date=1994-10-2 1994] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=127894&r_date=1995-10-1 1995] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=231447&r_date=1996-10-6 1996] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=244307&r_date=1997-10-5 1997]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=257906&r_date=1998-10-4 1998] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=273182&r_date=1999-10-3 1999] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=291598&r_date=2000-10-1 2000] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=307417&r_date=2001-10-7 2001] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=323235&r_date=2002-10-6 2002] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=340053&r_date=2003-10-5 2003] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=359488&r_date=2004-10-3 2004] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=392451&r_date=2005-10-2 2005] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=417767&r_date=2006-10-1 2006] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=441973&r_date=2007-10-7 2007]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=467229&r_date=2008-10-5 2008]
* "galop.courses-france.com:"
** [http://galop.courses-france.com/plat/courses/Prix-de-l'Opera-1974-1979.php 1974-1979] , [http://galop.courses-france.com/plat/courses/Prix-de-l'Opera-1980-1999.php 1980-1999] , [http://galop.courses-france.com/plat/courses/Prix-de-l'Opera-2000-2009.php 2000-present]

ee also

* List of French flat horse races