Opera Ballo ‘very exciting’ – but Appleby determined to take it slowly

Opera Ballo ‘very exciting’ – but Appleby determined to take it slowly

By Racing TV
Last Updated: Thu 10 Jul 2025
Charlie Appleby will continue to take “baby steps” with Opera Ballo after the exciting colt claimed his fourth victory from five starts in the Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket.
The son of Ghaiyyath made a huge impression winning his first two starts on the all-weather at Kempton and while he disappointed behind the brilliant Field Of Gold when well fancied for the Craven Stakes in April, he bounced back with a comprehensive Listed success at Sandown the following month.
Having since sidestepped Royal Ascot, Opera Ballo was the 11-8 favourite to continue his progression on the July course – and while he was giving 3lb to some smart rivals under William Buick, the result never really looked in doubt as he cruised two and three-quarter lengths clear of Seagulls Eleven.
Appleby said: “It’s easy to say after the event, but I’d have been disappointed if he’d got beat to be honest. He’s a very exciting horse we thought a lot of in the spring and even in the winter to be fair.
“He shows signs of his father as he’s a strong-minded horse, but he’s a great galloper and has got a big engine.
“People asked why we didn’t run him over seven furlongs in the Jersey (at Royal Ascot), but if you come back in trip and try to put speed in these sort of horses you can lose them and that’s the last thing I want to do, because I think he’s actually going to end up being a 10-furlong horse.”
Considering future plans, the trainer added: “He’s a horse we’ll keep taking baby steps with.
“At home you can put him in front or put him in behind and he just does as he’s asked, but when he turns up here (on a racecourse) he’s a different beast.
“He’s got to learn to do it the right way, I think he’ll have learnt a lot today and we might take him to Deauville for a Group Three.
“I know it sounds boring and people have asked why we haven’t been a bit punchier, but I’m very much working back from next year with him and I want to nurse him along so next year we have a horse that we can go to war with.
“This horse can gallop, there’s no doubt about that, but he’s got to learn to do it the right way on the racetrack.”
Opera Ballo rounded off an excellent day’s work for Appleby and Buick, with the pair enjoying a treble on the card and Buick riding his 2,000th winner in Britain aboard El Cordobes in the feature Princess of Wales’s Stakes.
The middle leg of the hat-trick was provided by Crimson Rose (7-2), who confirmed debut promise with a four-length verdict in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
“The highlight of the day has been William riding his 2,000th winner in Britain and from our point of view it’s been a great day for the team,” said Appleby.
“Crimson Rose is a filly who has obviously stepped up from Chelmsford with experience. We came here hopeful more than confident, she’s a neat little filly who shows a bit of natural pace at home and the experience under her belt from Chelmsford has probably stood her in good stead,” said Appleby.
“I wouldn’t be bold enough to say she’s a stakes filly, so we’ll see how we go.”
Marco Botti’s Prince Of India (7-1) was a decisive winner of the Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap and the Newmarket-based Italian feels there could be more to come from his charge in the autumn.
Botti said: “For a while I thought this would be the race for him, but beforehand I had my doubts with the ground. We had a little bit of rain on Monday, but since then it’s been so hot and I hoped it wouldn’t be too quick for him.
“I think with the stiff finish up the hill he got away with it, but when he gets a little bit more give in the ground I think he has a little bit more to offer and there’ll be a bit more to come from him.
“Six furlongs is probably about right – he’s definitely got plenty of toe.”
The concluding Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Handicap went to Charlie Johnston’s 14-1 shot Dutch Decoy, with Jack Mitchell the winning rider.
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