Highly regarded, Charlie Appleby-trained Opera Ballo stalked the early pace
set by his stablemate before accelerating in the homestretch for a four-length
win Wednesday night in the US$75,873 Conditions Stakes, a points prep at
Kempton Park, England, on the Euro-Mideast road to Kentucky Derby 2025.

The one-mile Polytrack race around one right turn drew six
3-year-olds, none of whom was among the early nominees for the U.S. Triple
Crown.

An odds-on favorite at post time in U.S. betting, Opera
Ballo (4-5) and his jockey William Buick let Olympus Point (14-1) lead the way
while staying two wide no more than 1 1/2 lengths back. Molveno (16-1), trained
by Marco Botti, tracked the Appleby pair through the turn.

In the homestretch with about 300 yards to go, Opera Ballo
took the lead while Olympus Point faded. Hott Shott (29-1) split horses to make
a late rally, but he never was a threat to finish any better than a distant
second. Saddadd (3-1) closed along the rail and finished another length back in
third. Quai De Bethune (2-1) came in fourth, Molveno fifth and Olympus Point
last.

On the synthetic course rated standard to slow, Opera Ballo was
clocked at 1:38.16 without a run-up. He paid $3.60 and $2.20 in two-way mutuels.
Hott Shott returned $17.20. Because of the small field, there was no third-place
payout.

A Ghaiyyath colt bred in Ireland and bought by Godolphin for
US$630,000, Opera Ballo is 2-for-2 after having won his debut over the same
mile course Jan. 25.

The top five finishers Wednesday earned 20-10-6-4-2 points
on the Kentucky Derby’s Euro-Mideast trail, which carries one invitation to the
May 3 run for the roses. Opera Ballo moved into a tie for first with Hotazhell
at the top of that leaderboard with Wednesday’s win, but none of the horses
earning points in the qualifying series has been nominated for the Triple
Crown.

The Patton Stakes on March 7 at Dundalk, Ireland, also is a
20-10-6-4-2 points race. The April 5 UAE Derby (G2), which was moved to the
Euro-Mideast trail this year, is worth 100-50-25-15-10 points and is expected
to be the race that sends a horse to the Kentucky Derby.