Peslier times it right on Villa Marina in Opera for old ally Laffon-Parias

While those close to her had expressed plenty of confidence ahead of time it seems that nearly everyone else had overlooked Villa Marina as a Prix de l'Opera Longines contender.

But with an old master in Olivier Peslier rationing his mount to deliver her effort at just the right moment, the three-year-old burst to the front and gamely held off the late lunge of Fleeting, with Watch Me back in third.

Villa Marina had looked a big threat in the Prix Vermeille over two furlongs further three weeks ago before her stamina ebbed out, leaving Carlos Laffon-Parias in no doubt as where to head next with the daughter of Le Havre.

Villa Marina wins the Prix de l'Opera Longines under Olivier PeslierCredit: Edward Whitaker

"In the Vermeille she showed she was at the level to win a Group 1," said Laffon Parias. "Over a mile and a half she just flattened out in the final 200 metres but she showed that over a shorter trip she is a high-class filly."

Laffon-Parias won the Arc in tandem with Peslier and Solemia back in 2012 and the pair have stuck close together almost from the start of the Spaniard's time in Chantilly.

Laffon-Parias said: "What can I say about Olivier? If he ever retires, I’ll stop with him!"

Despite the testing conditions at Longchamp, Peslier believes that Villa Marina could have all the attributes to head for Santa Anita at the beginning of November.

"She does everything naturally very fast and, while we’ll leave her quiet for a few days before deciding, I think she could be really suited for the Breeders' Cup [Fillies and Mares]," Peslier added.

Fleeting was beaten only a short neck in second and her rider Wayne Lordan picked up a 12-day ban for his eight strokes with the whip.

There was also a tragic postscript to the race for her Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate Goddess, who fractured a leg in the straight and had to be put down.

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