Opera Gal produces show-stopper for Balding

Opera Gal produced a gutsy all-the-way triumph in the silks of racecourse chairman Jeff Smith in the Upavon Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury yesterday.

The five-year-old, who Andrew Balding sent out to finish second to Primevere in the corresponding race 12 months ago, had run disappointingly on her previous 2012 outing at Royal Ascot. As a result, she had been given a near two-month break, the last fortnight of which saw her staying at her owner’s Littleton Stud.

According to Balding that had served to put the edge back on her and freshen her up for this Listed contest, in which Jimmy Fortune chose to make all on the well-supported 3-1 second-favourite.