We Are

We Are did remarkably well to finish third in the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp on Sunday.

Slowly away from her outside draw, stall 12 of 13, Thierry Jarnet dropped her in last of the 13 runners. The early pace was not strong, which was not ideal for a filly who was held up. Still stone last as they started the turn for home, her rider angled her to the outside at the top of the home straight, but, in truth, she never really had a chance of winning the race from that position, given the slow early pace. It was always going to be difficult for her to make ground into a quickening pace. Even so, she passed 10 of her 12 rivals to get up for third place behind Covert Love and Jazzi Top.

The winner and runner-up are high-class fillies. Covert Love won the Irish Oaks, while Jazzi Top had won the Pretty Polly Stakes and the Group 2 Prix de la Nonette. Just as importantly, the pair of them raced prominently, up with the sedate pace. Indeed, five of the first six home raced prominently. We Are was the only filly who got close from the rear.

Freddy Head’s filly remains a high-class filly. She won the Prix de l’Opera last year, and she was obviously primed for a big run again this year after a largely indifferent season. She remains of interest, she remains a high-class filly, although she does need good or fast ground to produce her best. She holds an entry in the Champion Stakes at Ascot, and she would be of interest in that if she took her chance and if the ground hadn’t gone by then. She would also be of interest if she lined up at the Breeders’ Cup.

4^th October 2015