Opera House (horse)

Opera House
Racing colours of Sheikh Mohammed
Sire	Sadler's Wells
Grandsire	Northern Dancer
Dam	Colorspin
Damsire	High Top
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1988
Country	Great Britain
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Meon Valley Stud
Owner	Sheikh Mohammed
Trainer	Michael Stoute
Record	18: 8-4-3
Earnings	£737,701 + F1,200,000
Major wins
Tattersalls Rogers Gold Cup (1992) Brigadier Gerard Stakes (1992) Cumberland Lodge Stakes (1992) Coronation Cup (1993) Eclipse Stakes (1993) K. George VI & Q. Elizabeth Stakes (1993)
Awards
European Champion Older Horse (1993)
Horse (Equus ferus caballus)
Last updated on June 25, 2009

Opera House (foaled February 24, 1988) is a retired British thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. As a racehorse, he is best known for his performances as a five-year-old in 1993, when he won three Group One races and was named European Champion Older Horse. He was retired to stud in Japan where his progeny including T M Opera O.

Background

Opera House, a bay horse with a white star, was bred by the Meon Valley Stud in Hampshire.^[1] He was sired by Sadler's Wells, out of Colorspin, a daughter of High Top.^[2] Sadler's Wells (1981-2001) won three Group One races in 1984 and went on to sire the winners of over 2,000 races including more than 130 at Group One/Grade I level.^[3] He was the most successful sire in the history of British racing being the leading Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland a record fourteen times.^[4] Colorspin won the Irish Oaks and was a half-sister of the Prix de l'Opera winner Bella Colora and the Irish Champion Stakes winner Cezanne.^[5] Apart from Opera House, she also produced his full brother, the champion stayer Kayf Tara and the Prix de l'Opera winner Zee Zee Top.^[6]

Opera House raced in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed and was trained throughout his career by Michael Stoute at Newmarket, Suffolk. His most regular jockeys were Steve Cauthen and Michael Roberts.

Racing career

1990: two-year-old season

Opera House did not appear on a racecourse until the Autumn of 1990. At Leicester in October he started odds on for an eleven runner maiden race and pulled clear in the closing stages to win by ten lengths.^[7]

Shortly after the race, Opera House was exercising at Newmarket when he tripped and fell on a road. He sustained a fracture to his pastern which put his career in jeopardy and kept him of the course for eleven months.^[8]

1991: three-year-old season

Opera House's three-year-old debut was delayed by his recuperation from injury and he did not race until September, when he won a three runner race at Nottingham.^[9] Three weeks later, he was beaten a neck by the future Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Perpendicular in a Listed at Goodwood. On his final start of the year he was moved up to Group Three class for the St. Simon Stakes at Newbury. He led in the straight before fading in the final furlong and finishing fourth to Further Flight.

1992: four-year-old season

On his 1992 debut, Opera House put up his best performance to date. Although he was beaten in the Gordon Richards Stakes he looked unlucky in running and did well to finish third behind Dear Doctor (Arlington Million) and Red Bishop (Hong Kong Vase). He then recorded his first major win when getting up in the last stride^[10] to beat Zoman (Washington, D.C. International) in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh. Ten days later he returned to England to win the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.^[11]

Opera House lost his next three starts, beginning with a disappointing sixth place in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was moved up to Group One level and performed with credit, finishing second to Kooyonga in the Eclipse Stakes and third to St Jovite in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

After a short break he returned to win his third important win of the season, staying on gamely to beat Red Bishop by one and a half lengths in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes^[12] Previewing the race, one correspondent as a described Opera Hose "consistent slugger"- a brave and dependable horse, rather than a brilliant one.^[13] Plans to send the horse to America for the Breeders' Cup Turf^[14] did not come to fruition.

1993: five-year-old season

As a five-year-old, Opera House contested seven races, all of them at Group One level, and won three times. He was ridden in all but one of his races by Michael RobertsOn his debut he traveled to France for the first time for the Prix Ganay at Longchamp, where he led in the straight before being caught close home and narrowly beaten by Vert Amande.

At the Derby meeting at Epsom in June he recorded his first Group One win when getting up to win the Coronation Cup in a "blanket finish"^[15] from Environment Friend and Apple Tree.^[16]

A month later he took the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, leading in the straight and holding off the late challenge of the Italian champion Misil by a short-head.^[17] The beaten horses included the Breeders' Cup winners Barathea and Arcangues. Opera House was ridden at Sandown by Michael Kinane as Roberts chose to ride Barathea, whom he felt would be better suited by the fast ground.^[18] The Independent's correspondent described the performance as "commendable" whilst questioning the overall value of the form.^[19]

In the King George at Ascot, Opera House was made 8/1 third favourite in a strong field,^[20] behind the Epsom Derby winner Commander in Chief and the 1992 European Horse of the Year User Friendly. Ridden by Michael Roberts, Opera House tracked the leaders before being moved into the lead two furlongs out and stayed on strongly to beat White Muzzle by one and a half lengths with Commander in Chief third.^[21] After the race, Stoute praised the horse, saying "I hope for his sake they'll now give him some credit."^[22]

On his next start Opera House was made evens favourite for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. He took the lead in the straight but was caught inside the final furlong and beaten half a length by Muhtarram. In the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October he took the lead in the straight and ran on under pressure after being headed to finish third, beaten a neck and half a length by Urban Sea and White Muzzle. Stoute offered no excuses, although he pointed out that the very soft ground might not have suited the horse.^[23] On his final start he traveled to California for the Breeders' Cup Turf in which he finished sixth behind Kotashaan.

An invitation to run in the Japan Cup was declined, and Opera House was retired to stud by his new owners, the Japan Racing Association.^[24]

Assessment, Honors and Awards

T M Opera O; Opera House's record-breaking son

Opera House was named European Champion Older Horse at the 1993 Cartier Racing Awards.

In the International Classification for 1993, Opera House was rated the best older horse in Europe with a figure of 129, one pound below the three-year-old champion Zafonic.^[25]

Stud career

Opera House retired to the Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan.^[26]

His progeny include the World's leading money earner^[27] T M Opera O (Japan Cup, Arima Kinen, Tenno Sho), and Meisho Samson (Japanese Derby, Tenno Sho).^[28]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Opera House, bay stallion 1988

Sire Sadler's Wells	Northern Dancer	Nearctic	Nearco
			Lady Angela
		Natalma	Native Dancer
			Almahmoud
	Fairy Bridge	Bold Reason	Hail to Reason
			Lalun
		Special	Forli
			Thong
Dam Colorspin	High Top	Derring-Do	Darius
			Sipsey Bridge
		Camenae	Vimy
			Madrilene
	Reprocolor	Jimmy Reppin	Midsummer Night
			Sweet Molly
		Blue Queen	Majority Blue
			Hill Queen (family 13)

References

1. ^ "Meon Valley Stud". Meonvalleystud.co.uk. http://www.meonvalleystud.co.uk/index.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
2. ^ "Opera House pedigree". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/horse_home_popup.sd?horse_id=63002#topHorseTabs=horse_pedigree&bottomHorseTabs=horse_form. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
3. ^ "Sadler's Wells Stud Record". Bloodstock.racingpost.com. http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/stallionbook/stallion.sd?horse_id=463975&popup=1. Retrieved 2011-09-17. 
4. ^ "Leading Sires of Great Britain and Ireland". Tbheritage.com. http://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/LeadingSires/GBLeadSires.html. Retrieved 2011-09-17. 
5. ^ "Death at 32 of broodmare superstar Reprocolor". Thefreelibrary.com. 2008-08-11. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Death+at+32+of+broodmare+superstar+Reprocolor%3B+BLOODSTOCK+WORLD.-a0182589992. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
6. ^ "Colorspin Statistics". Bloodstock.racingpost.com. http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/dam/dam_home.sd?horse_id=407374#damTabs=dam_progeny_sales. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
7. ^ "EBF Reference Point Maiden Stakes result". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=102670&r_date=1990-10-16&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
8. ^ "Unsung lad who rebuilt broken-down House". The Independent. 1993-12-15. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-unsung-lad-who-rebuilt-brokendown-house-a-stablehands-role-in-rehabilitating-a-champion-has-won-a-welldeserved-accolade-sue-montgomery-reports-1467627.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
9. ^ "Bentinck Stakes result". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=107115&r_date=1991-09-23&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
10. ^ "Tattersalls Gold Cup result". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=108896&r_date=1992-05-16&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
11. ^ "Brigadier Gerard Stakes result". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=109134&r_date=1992-05-26&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
12. ^ "Cumberland Lodge Stakes result". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=112039&r_date=1992-09-24&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
13. ^ "Bonny outlook amid the rain". The Independent. 1992-09-24. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-bonny-outlook-amid-the-rain-1553405.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
14. ^ "Rambo's return mission". The Independent. 1992-09-25. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-rambos-return-mission-1553601.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
15. ^ "Tenby flop still puzzles Cecil". The Independent. 1993-06-04. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-tenby-flop-still-puzzles-cecil-epsom-came-down-to-earth-yesterday-after-the-derby-favourites-eclipse-richard-edmondson-reports-1489594.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
16. ^ "Coronation Cup result". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=114350&r_date=1993-06-03&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
17. ^ "Eclipse Stakes result". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=115145&r_date=1993-07-03&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
18. ^ "Racing: Barathea is Eclipse choice for Roberts". The Independent. 1993-07-02. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-barathea-is-eclipse-choice-for-roberts-the-champion-jockey-finds-grounds-to-reject-opera-house-in-tomorrows-big-race-richard-edmondson-reports-1482448.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
19. ^ "Kinane is again the supersub". The Independent. 1993-07-04. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-kinane-is-again-the-supersub-1482728.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
20. ^ "Roberts tops bill on Opera House". The Independent. 1993-07-25. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-roberts-tops-bill-on-opera-house-1486961.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
21. ^ "King George result". Racing Post. http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=115695&r_date=1993-07-24&popup=yes#results_top_tabs=re_&results_bottom_tabs=ANALYSIS. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
22. ^ "Opera in pursuit of an encore in Paris". The Independent. 1993-07-26. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-commentary-opera-in-pursuit-of-an-encore-in-paris-a-derby-winners-credentials-are-questioned-as-the-king-george-victor-is-made-favourite-for-the-arc-1487301.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
23. ^ "Sea defence keeps the British challenge at bay". The Independent. 1993-10-04. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing--prix-de-larc-de-triomphe-sea-defence-keeps-the-british-challenge-at-bay-preparation-proves-crucial-in-the-prix-de-larc-de-triomphe-as-an-outsider-becomes-a-family-favourite-richard-edmondson-reports-from-longchamp-1508528.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
24. ^ "Invitation to Opera declined". The Independent. 1993-11-10. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-invitation-to-opera-declined-1503379.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
25. ^ "Opera House, Zafonic and Grand Lodge head the Flat ratings". The Independent. 1994-01-13. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing--class-of-93-new-breed-slides-into-mediocrity-opera-house-zafonic-and-grand-lodge-head-the-flat-ratings-but-the-handicappers-warn-of-a-slump-in-standards-richard-edmondson-on-a-dearth-of-quality-1406580.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
26. ^ https://www.jbis.or.jp/jbis_cgi/sp_detail.cgi?sire=0000339572
27. ^ Maureen Farrell (2009-04-30). "The World's 10 Top-Earning Horses - No. 1 T.M. Opera O". Forbes.com. http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/30/top-earning-horses-entrepreneurs-finance-derby_slide_2.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
28. ^ "Opera House Stud Record". Bloodstock.racingpost.com. http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/stallionbook/stallion.sd?horse_id=63002&popup=1&tab=stud. Retrieved 2011-10-15.