Opera Ballo romps in European Road race at Kempton

Feb 27, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Godolphin’s Opera Ballo powered away from his rivals in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions race Wednesday at Kempton. Favored in the wake of an impressive debut score over the same Polytrack course and distance, the Charlie Appleby trainee picked up 20 points on the Euro/Mideast Road.

But if precedent is anything to go by, Opera Ballo will have designs on a British classic – Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas (G1) – on the first Saturday in May rather than the Kentucky Derby (G1). One year ago, stablemate Notable Speech won the same Kempton maiden and the European Road race and ultimately switched to turf to upset the 2000 Guineas.

With Godolphin’s principal rider, William Buick, aboard, Opera Ballo tracked pacesetting stablemate Olympus Point in the early going. The big bay imposed his authority down the stretch and stretched four lengths clear. Opera Ballo reeled off his final quarter in :22.65 to finish the mile in 1:38.16.

"This is a class act." 👀

A very smart performance! Opera Ballo makes it two from two in fine style by winning the "European Road To The Kentucky Derby" Conditions Stakes with plenty to spare under @WilliamBuickX for team @godolphin pic.twitter.com/Mn0H892uoF

— Kempton Park Racecourse (@kemptonparkrace) February 26, 2025

Longshot Hott Shott stayed on to take second (10 points), one length up on third-placer Saddadd (six points). Quai de Bethune was a one-paced fourth (four points). Molveno, who led briefly in the opening stages, faded to fifth (two points), and Olympus Point dropped back to last.

None of the six runners in Wednesday’s contest were nominated to the U.S. Triple Crown by the early deadline.

Opera Ballo is now 2-for-2 on the Kempton Polytrack, but his pedigree likely reinforces the desire to progress on turf. The Irish-bred is from the first crop of Godolphin star Ghaiyyath, a son of Dubawi who toppled the great racemare Enable in the 2020 Eclipse (G1). Opera Ballo is out of the Invincible Spirit mare Dubai Opera, a full sister to Lockwood and a half to Earnshaw, both Group 3-winning turf performers.

Bred by Ecurie de Cachene, Opera Ballo was purchased for $652,350 as a yearling at Arqana August.

The next Euro/Mideast Road scoring race, the March 7 Patton at Dundalk, is also a one-mile affair on Polytrack. The final and decisive leg will be the April 5 UAE Derby (G2) on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan.