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Baharah out of Prix de l'Opera

David Carr

BAHARAH'S bid for the Prix de l'Opera on Sunday has been sunk by a blockadeof French fishermen protesting over the high cost of fuel.

Gerard Butler was thwarted in his bid to take the filly across to France on Friday night and was forced to withdraw her from the Longchamp contest.

"There was a bit of an issue with the transportation," the trainer said. "There was a strike in Calais, the fishermen were blockading and she wasn't going to get there until too late."

Plans remain fluid for Baharah, a Listed winner at Ascot in July, and Butler said: "She is in the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket and she has a few other options but we will decide over the next few days."