Karl Burke’s top-class filly is set to step up in trip for the Prix de l’Opera.
Fallen Angel, the talented filly trained by Karl Burke, has her sights set on the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp following a promising comeback in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. The daughter of Too Darn Hot showcased her class by finishing second after a 111-day absence, reaffirming her status as a top contender.
As a juvenile, Fallen Angel delivered an outstanding season, capped off by a Group One victory in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh, having already clinched the Sweet Solera earlier in the year. With such a strong two-year-old campaign, she entered her three-year-old season with high expectations, including being well-fancied for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. However, luck was not on her side in the Classic, where she finished eighth as the 100-30 favourite.
Wathnan Racing have purchased Fallen Angel 😮
The classic winning filly is still aiming for the Matron Stakes 🪽 pic.twitter.com/UOQzlrhwUK
— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) August 31, 2024
Fallen Angel quickly bounced back with a stellar win in the Irish 1000 Guineas, dominating the race with a two-and-three-quarter-length victory under jockey Danny Tudhope at the Curragh. However, a setback forced her to take a break from racing, putting her campaign on hold.
During her recovery period, Fallen Angel was acquired by Wathnan Racing, and her first race for her new owners came in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. Despite the lengthy absence, she proved she had lost none of her talent, finishing a close runner-up to Donnacha O'Brien's outstanding filly, Porta Fortuna, under the guidance of James Doyle.
Richard Brown, representing Wathnan Racing, expressed satisfaction with her performance. "We were delighted with that, she's had some time off the track since the Irish Guineas," Brown said. "We thought she ran a great race, we were very happy with her, as Porta Fortuna is as good as there is over the distance."
Fallen Angel's connections now plan to step her up to 10 furlongs for the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp in early October. Doyle, after his first ride on the filly, believes that the longer distance will suit her well. "James felt that going up in trip would be a big benefit to her, so we're pointing her towards the Prix de l'Opera next," Brown confirmed.
With a return to top form and an exciting challenge ahead, Fallen Angel will be looking to add another prestigious victory to her already impressive record at Longchamp.
