Horse Profile: Soprano

Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Scouting Report

(Editor's note: Originally published in the 2024 BRISnet Breeders' Cup International Report) 

As a close relative of 2016 Turf Sprint hero Obviously, who ran in four straight Breeders’ Cup Miles before his breakthrough on the cutback at Santa Anita, Soprano faces an obvious distance question here. The prospect of a strenuous pace will ruthlessly expose any stamina limitations.

Obviously was by the sprinter Choisir. Soprano is by Choisir’s son Starspangledbanner, a champion sprinter in both Australia and Europe who won over a mile himself, and can get horses that stay further. Soprano’s dam, herself a half-sister to Obviously, is by outstanding miler Excelebration, fourth in Wise Dan’s record-setting Mile in 2012. Although there is stamina in the female line, it’s questionable how much is being expressed at this point.

Campaigned by the prominent Highclere Thoroughbred Racing syndicate, Soprano is trained by the up-and-coming George Boughey. His only prior Breeders’ Cup starter also came for Highclere at Del Mar – Cachet, who nearly wired the 2021 Juvenile Fillies Turf when finishing fourth at odds of 20-1.

Soprano kept hinting of abundant promise at two without quite fulfilling it. A sharp debut winner during 2023 Guineas weekend at Newmarket, she was third to Porta Fortuna (Mile) in the Albany (G3) at Royal Ascot, third as the favorite in the Star S. at Sandown, runner-up in the Sweet Solera (G3) to future multiple Group 1 queen Fallen Angel, and an amazing third as the favorite in the Dick Poole Fillies’ (G3) after totally blowing the start. Had she broken halfway sensibly in the six-furlong dash, Soprano would have won. 

Soprano’s only unplaced effort as a juvenile came in her final outing of the season, a seventh behind Porta Fortuna in the Cheveley Park (G1), where the race developed away from her on the opposite side of the course. But more was likely involved in the result since she underwent a wind operation a couple of weeks later.

Resuming May 2 in the six-furlong Chelmer Fillies’ S. over the Chelmsford Polytrack, Soprano pulled fiercely when racing off the pace on the inside. She could do no better than fifth behind favored Pandora’s Gift (Filly & Mare Sprint). Soprano stepped back up to seven furlongs for the Queen of Scots Fillies’ S. at Musselburgh, where she wasn’t quick away, anchored in last, and rallied well for third to the progressive Jabaara. 

Off that evidence, Soprano was looking for a mile, and she got it in a handicap at Royal Ascot. Settled at the back of the far side group, she finished with a flourish to prevail by a half-length. Soprano wasn’t the highweight, but she was still toting 131 pounds and conceding 17 pounds to the runner-up. 

Soprano’s return to black-type company didn’t achieve the same results at first, until an inspired change of tactics. After closing from last for third to front-running Spiritual in the Distaff at Sandown, and getting no nearer than fourth to another front runner (future Opera [G1] winner Friendly Soul) in the Valiant (G3) at Ascot, Soprano morphed into a pace factor herself. 

That switch-up yielded immediate dividends in the Aug. 15 Prix de Lieurey (G3). Rolling forward on the outside to attend early, Soprano drew off by three lengths to score an overdue stakes victory. The 7-1 shot also reversed form with Spiritual, who was prominent but dropped back to sixth. 

Soprano backed up that performance with a solid third, at 14-1, to Porta Fortuna and old foe Fallen Angel in the Matron (G1) on Irish Champions Weekend. She was too keen pressing Fallen Angel, but stayed in the thick of contention and didn’t miss second by much. 

Shipped to Keeneland for the 1 1/8-mile Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), Soprano didn’t break cleanly and found herself in fifth early. She wouldn’t have coped with the imperious She Feels Pretty regardless, but Soprano might have been a clearer second with a better start. Slightly disorganized trying to navigate the turn for home, she kept on resolutely to collar pacesetter Caitlinhergrtness for the runner-up spot. 

In any event, her QEII effort didn’t make a compelling case to go up in trip to 1 3/8 miles. Given the stamina question, she might revert to more patient tactics in hopes that she can still produce a kick.