Nahrain claims l'Opera as Banimpire third Nahrain gave English handler Roger Varian a Group One winner in his first season with a licence as she edged a thrilling Qatar Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp. Winner of her first three racecourse starts, the Selkirk filly was making her first racecourse appearance since winning a Sandown Listed race in June. Frankie Dettori was stuck in behind a wall of horses with little over a furlong to run, but once the gap came Nahrain engaged overdrive and shot to the lead. Favourite Announce then came out of the pack to mount a serious challenge and there was little between the pair passing the post, but Nahrain was called the winner by the judge, subject to a stewards' inquiry. Jim Bolger's consistent filly Banimpire put up another sound performance to finish third. The result was quickly confirmed, and Varian, whose long-time mentor Michael Jarvis died last week, said: "I wasn't sure whether we had won or not crossing the line. "She's always looked very good at home, but it was a bit of a risk coming here after she'd only won a Listed race. She'd had a little bit of a setback, but in the last few days everything really clicked,. "She had a hard race today and I think that will have taken a bit out of her so we'll take her home, see how she is and talk to connections." He added: "We lost a great man in Michael last week." Dettori, who was wrapping up a big-race double and riding his 501st Group-race winner, said: "They (the stewards) made me sweat but I'm pleased for Roger. "He's made a good start to his career. This one is for Michael Jarvis, he was a big supporter of mine."
