Jessica Harrington's leading filly Alpine Star will be targeted at the Prix de l’Opera at the Arc meeting in October after the three year old put in an excellent performance to finish second in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday.
The filly has been a breath of fresh air for the yard this term making her seasonal debut at Royal Ascot in the Group One Coronation Stakes and beat a decent field comfortably.
Off the back of that she was a narrow second to Fancy Blue in the French Oaks and that form looks extremely strong with Donnacha O'Brien's filly since going on to land the Group One Nassau Stakes.
Alpine Star also franked that Prix de Diane form running a stormer at the weekend behind the unbeaten Palace Pier in heavy conditions and now they will give her a rest before the Arc meeting.
LEVELS...
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) August 16, 2020
PALACE PIER bolts up in the Prix Le Jacques Marois fending off the late challenge of Alpine Star. Both well clear of the rest of the pack 🐎💨
Two very very very good milers 👏🏼
🎬 @AtTheRaces pic.twitter.com/fjmeJvJreL
(credit ATR) "The Prix de l’Opera is a definite possibility for Alpine Star,” said Alan Cooper, racing manager for owners, the Niarchos Family.
“She got home OK and we’ll need a few days to come up with a definitive plan.”
Just behind Alpine Star in the same silks was the ever reliable Circus Maximus and after some smart performances this year, winning the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, finishing second in the Sussex Stakes and then third on Sunday, he could now stay in France and bid for consecutive Prix du Moulin's.
The race is scheduled for September 6 at ParisLongchamp this term and with the race being in just three weeks it will be down to Aidan O'Brien and connections whether he will go for it again.
"I haven’t spoken to Aidan yet. The Moulin is less than three weeks away. We’ll see what Aidan would like to do,” said Cooper.
“They both ran very well indeed. It was a top-class race and the winner is very good.