Opera Ballo delivered a stunning front‑running display to capture the bet365 Mile at Sandown, confirming his status as a top‑class performer. The colt, bred by Ghaiyyath, had already hinted at greatness after winning four of his first five starts.
Although he was outpaced by the seasoned Zeus Olympios in the Joel Stakes at Newmarket last autumn, Opera Ballo rebounded with two dominant victories in Dubai, showing that the earlier defeat was a mere blip on his rising trajectory. Entering the Group Two contest as the third‑most favored at 4‑1, Charlie Appleby’s entry was sent straight to the front by jockey William Buick. From the moment the gates opened, Opera Ballo seized the initiative, dictating a steady tempo that left his rivals scrambling for position. The race unfolded with the previous year’s Irish Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes champion Field Of Gold, who had been installed as the even‑money favourite after a lackluster finish to the prior season, attempting a late surge from well off the pace.
Field Of Gold managed to rally and secured second place, edging out the unbeaten Zeus Olympios in a hard‑fought finish. Despite the late charge, neither challenger appeared capable of threatening Opera Ballo’s dominance. The colt won comfortably by three lengths, a margin that underscored his superior class and the value of his winning odds. Appleby explained the tactical decision that led to the front‑running plan: "William and I were chatting yesterday and there wasn’t a clear pace scenario, so we decided to let him run like his sire—jump and go.
He’s electric out of the gates, and Will always says we can take two or three lengths off the start." Appleby praised Buick’s ride, noting the track conditions suited a bold early move: "It was a great ride from Will, and the track allowed us to execute the plan. Full credit to the horses behind for staying close; once our lad built that lead, it was always going to be a tough ask for anyone to close the gap." He also reflected on the colt’s fitness, recalling a comment from January that Opera Ballo was the "fit horse" of the stable. "That run under his belt certainly helped," Appleby added, hinting that the recent performance confirmed the early assessment.
Looking ahead, Appleby hinted at a step up in distance: "Our plan was always to stretch him to nine furlongs for the Prix d'Ispahan. The Lockinge is also on the radar, but Notable Speech is earmarked for that race." This suggests that Opera Ballo’s connections are already plotting a campaign that could see him tackling some of Europe’s premier middle‑distance contests. In the same meeting, Roger Varian’s Saddadd produced a dramatic come‑from‑behind victory in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes.
The four‑year‑old, a former London Gold Cup winner at Newbury, had shown promise over the same distance last season, finishing a close third in the Listed Fountain Stakes at Goodwood. Starting as a 2‑1 contender, Saddadd was guided by Ray Dawson, who timed a decisive move on the outside to overtake the early leader King Of Cities by a length and three‑quarters. The 15‑8 favourite Almeric trailed in third, five and a half lengths back. Varian lauded his charge, describing him as "an absolute darling of a horse" with a calm disposition: "If you saw him in the paddock, he was asleep and had the most delightful attitude.
He reminds me of the best horses with a brilliant brain to match their ability." He noted that Saddadd had struggled after a strong performance at Goodwood, likely due to a hard winter and firm ground, but that the break had rejuvenated him. The trainer emphasized patience with the colt’s development: "Ray was adamant we don’t need to move the goalposts yet; we’ll stick to ten furlongs for now.
He runs relaxed and has matured well. We love him and dream of a Group One win, but his next race will tell us more." Varian hinted at future targets, including the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and possibly a Champion Stakes appearance at Ascot, while also keeping an eye on the Eclipse Stakes later in the summer. Another highlight of the day was Black Star Boy, who secured a decisive win in the bet365 Handicap at Sandown.
Trained by Ed Walker, the son of Starman had previously contested a Listed race as a two‑year‑old and now, under jockey Kieran Shoemark, proved his sprinting credentials at 9‑1. Walker praised the colt’s temperament and speed, noting his strong pedigree on both sire and dam sides: "He’s a great advert for his sire and an absolute beast with a wonderful temperament. He’s fast on his dam’s side, so he was always destined to be a sprinter." Walker disclosed that the original plan was to aim for the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes at Royal Ascot, but the impressive handicap win may open the door to even higher ambitions.
He remains cautious, however, awaiting the handicapper’s assessment before committing to a specific target. Overall, the Sandown meeting delivered a mix of dominant front‑running victories, dramatic comebacks, and promising sprinters, setting the stage for an exciting second half of the flat season.
Opera Ballo’s commanding win positions him as a serious contender for upcoming Group races, while Saddadd’s resurgence suggests he could soon test the Group One ranks. Black Star Boy’s sprinting prowess adds depth to the next generation of speedsters, and all three connections will be watching the official ratings closely as they map out their horses’ next steps.