Jessica Harrington has long been a force to reckon with, one of the few trainers to have conquered Group 1 racing both on the Flat and over Jumps — a distinction that sets her apart in modern racing. Her previous French triumphs with Alpha Centauri in the 2018 Prix Jacques Le Marois and Albigna in the 2019 Prix Marcel Boussac confirmed her class on foreign soil. And on Sunday at ParisLongchamp, she added another glittering chapter to her résumé when Barnavara (Calyx) captured the Qatar Prix de l’Opéra Longines (G1).

Making her first start in France, the Irish filly turned the prestigious 2,000-metre contest into a commanding front-running display. Fresh off a polished victory in the G2 Moyglare Stud Blandford Stakes at the Curragh, Barnavara broke sharply under Sean Foley and set a steady but demanding tempo. Though she travelled keenly early, she found her rhythm and refused to yield in the stretch, repelling a series of determined late attacks.

See the Fire (Sea The Stars), under Oisin Murphy, chased hard and briefly looked threatening before running out of ground, while One Look (Gleneagles)—beaten narrowly by Barnavara at the Curragh last month—stormed home from the rear for a close third. The winning time was 2:05.52, with margins of a short neck and a short head separating the first three.

For Harrington, the win carried deep satisfaction — a reward for patient handling and a testament to her team’s consistency through the season.

> “She was fantastic,” Harrington said. “She’s kept improving throughout the year and stepped up again today. There was a small dip earlier when Shane couldn’t ride her, but she bounced right back. She’s brave, she’s got a big stride, and she loves to roll along in front.

We haven’t made any plans yet — today was the goal. Some Japanese representatives did ask about the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, but we’ll think about it. The syndicate usually sells after the three-year-old season, so we’ll see what happens next.”

It was a statement win from a filly who’s come of age, and another reminder that Jessica Harrington’s global touch remains as sharp as ever.

Result – Qatar Prix de l’Opéra Longines (G1)
1st: Barnavara (Sean Foley)
2nd: See the Fire (Oisin Murphy)
3rd: One Look (James Doyle)
Time: 2:05.52 — Margins: Short Neck, Short Head, Short Neck