Palmer Eyes Up Covert Missions

Trainer Hugo Palmer is keeping a close eye on the weather forecast as he plans his next move with his G1 Irish Oaks winner Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}). Having persuaded the owners to supplement the filly for the Irish Classic, Palmer is contemplating a similar strategy for the G1 Yorkshire Oaks at York Aug. 20. However the prospect of drying ground has the Newmarket trainer in two minds.

“It’s all systems go for York at the moment, but she does need supplementing and I don’t want to run her on August baking ground. If Yorkshire gets a hot spell for 2 1/2 weeks we might have to think about stumping up £35,000, but we are working with that in mind,” said Palmer.

Another option for the 3-year-old is to wait for the G1 St. Leger at Doncaster next month, a race her Oaks jockey Pat Smullen originally thought she would be ideal for.

Palmer added, “Pat said when he crossed the line at The Curragh, he felt she’d win the St Leger, but now he’s watched it back he agrees with me the obvious races for her are over a mile and a half.”

One thing Palmer wants to ensure is that the filly stays fresh for her end-of-season target, the G1 Fillies and Mares S. at Ascot on British Champions Day Oct. 17.

He concluded, “I doubt very much she’d go to York and Doncaster, as the most obvious race for her is the Fillies and Mares race at Ascot–if you could tailor-make a race for her, it would be that.”