Thursday 20 August, York
I’m not sure how much was proved by the runaway success of Love in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks, but the 1000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks-winning filly took her Group One tally to four – she also won the Moyglare Stud Stakes as a two-year-old – once again demonstrated that those athletic legs and that big heart combine splendidly well.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained, Coolmore-bred and owned daughter of Galileo always looked like making this top-level race the formality it turned out to be under Ryan Moore and beat the gallant 33-1 shot Alpinista by five lengths.
Moore described the success as her “easiest task for a while”, but added that she had been “exceptional every start”, that the rain-softened going, the softest on which she’d ever won, was “not ideal conditions”, but it was “business as usual”.
O’Brien indicated that Love will now be aimed at October’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris where she could meet – conceded, as a three year filly, a significant amount of weight – the International Stakes winner Ghaiyyath and two-time Arc winner Enable, and maybe the Great Voltigeur hero Pyledriver, plus many more.
We’ve already had two ‘Races of the Year’ – Mohaather’s Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and the International at York – but that has the potential to outshine either.
Away from the feature, Miss Amulet produced a really pleasing display to see off the challenge of well-touted favourite Sacred in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes.
Racing for the sixth time – all races since the resumption of racing in her native Ireland in June – she represents another feather in the cap of trainer Ken Condon, based in stables previously occupied by the legendary Dessie Hughes close to The Curragh; he also has a very nice two-year old colt, Law Of Indices, while 2018 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Romanised is stable stalwart.
I bet you the Clipper Logistics Handicap won narrowly by Montatham, beating Sir Busker, Top Rank and Prompting turns out to be a top-rank form.
Take nothing away from the winner, but that Sir Busker is great, showing up in many of these types of races and never running a bad race. Love him. So much love around today…
