Opale

Opale (18 April 1980 – after 1992) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Unraced as a juvenile she won her first three races as a three-year-old in 1983 and later finished second in the Princess Royal Stakes. In the following year, she was placed in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes and won the Meld Stakes before recording her biggest success in the Irish St. Leger. On her final appearance, she was disqualified after finishing first in the Premio Roma. After her retirement from racing, she became a broodmare and produced several minor winners. Her last recorded foal was born in 1992. Background Opale was a "big, rangy" chestnut mare with a white blaze and white socks on her hind legs bred in England by the Snailwell Stud. During her racing career, she was owned by Snailwell and trained by Alec Stewart in Newmarket, Suffolk. Her sire Busted was the British Horse of the Year in 1967, when he won the Eclipse Stakes and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The best of Busted's other progeny included the outstanding middle distance performers Bustino and Mtoto. Opale's dam Conning Tower (also bred by Snailwell) won two minor races over one mile as a three-year-old in 1975. Conning Tower was a granddaughter of the Irish mare Esquire Girl (foaled 1952), whose other descendants have included Workforce, Brian Boru and Qualify. Racing career