Rhododendron blooms to win exciting Prix de l’Opera Longines

Ridden by jockey Seamie Heffernan, Rhododendron returned to the scene of a traumatic Prix de Diane experience to claim a hard-fought victory in a tight finish to win by a head’s distance.

Heffernan was the beneficiary of Ryan Moore’s decision to ride Hydrangea and it was the former who can be justifiably pleased with his efforts as Rhododendron conquered a starting line-up of 12 other suitors and a distance of a mile and two furlongs to win by a head. To reflect the close nature of the finish, it was only two further necks back that Lady Frankel and Wuheida finished in third and fourth respectively.

Earlier, O’Brien saw his ace filly Happily put the colts in their place when winning the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, also known as the Grand Criterium.

This time with Moore at the helm, the daughter of Galileo was full of running and kept on well to win by a length and a quarter from Olmedo in second and Masar in third, in doing becoming the first filly in 31 years to win the contest.

Charlie Appleby made it a repeat success in the Group 1 Total Prix Marcel Boussac as Wild Illusion delivered the goods in some style, beating the previously unbeaten Polydream.

After last year’s success with Wuheida, the chances of a repeat success were slim especially after Wild Illusion was well-beaten by Soustraction one the same course and over the same distance four weeks ago. However, aided by a good ride by jockey James Doyle, the gamble to enter the race paid off handsomely. The daughter of Dubawi led early in the home straight before staying on well for a length and half success over Polydream, who was a head’s distance in front of Mission Impassible in third.

Jockey Jim Crowley and trainer Charles Hills combined to see Battaash romp to success in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines.
Thirteen runners went to post for this Group 1 encounter and Battash made it something of a procession, coming home four lengths clear of Marsha in second and Profitable in third.

To round off a spectacular day of Group One races at Chantilly, Oisin Murphy guided Aclaim to victory in the Qatar Prix de la Foret.

Trainer Martyn Meade followed up yesterday’s win by Dolphin Vista in the Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket by seeing Aclaim take the honours over the David O’Meara-trained So Beloved by three-quarters of a length, with Karar in third.