Ghaiyyath’s three-year-old son Opera Ballo made it four wins from five starts and two consecutive Black Type victories on Thursday, 10 July with a dominant performance in the Listed Henry Cecil Stakes on Newmarket’s July course.
Racing behind the pace early on in the one-mile contest, the Charlie Appleby-trained colt progressed smoothly to take up the running a furlong from home. Once in front, he soon kicked clear and ran on superbly to win by four lengths.
This was his fourth career victory and second at Stakes level, having landed the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown on his last start.
Bred by Ecurie de Cachene and a €600,000 yearling, Opera Ballo is the second winner from two foals to race out of Dubai Opera, also dam of Night Of Thunder’s Stakes-placed daughter Dyptique. The mare is herself a full sister to multiple Group winner Lockwood and a half-sister to G1 performer Earnshaw.
Ghaiyyath is also sire of Classic horse and Group winner Mandanaba, third in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches plus the unbeaten Gethin, 2024's highest-rated winning two-year-old debutant. Earlier this afternoon, his son Nightime Dancer finished second in the G3 Bahrain Trophy.
