The Power of Love

Thursday’s G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks, a ‘Win and You’re In’ event for the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly/Mare Turf, should establish a firm pecking order among the middle-distance fillies, with the G1 Irish Oaks winner Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) bidding to solidify her status at the top of the tree following her latest G1 Irish Oaks success.

Upsetting the Irish fillies Jack Naylor (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Curvy (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in that July 18 Curragh Classic, the Fomo Syndicate’s surprise star turn has had the rain to help her cause on this track which favors her forward-going style. Trainer Hugo Palmer is hopeful she can confirm the Irish form and said, “Covert Love has been great since the Irish Oaks–I’m absolutely delighted with her. The strong pace in Ireland suited her, but she has made her own running and is very amenable–we have never had to think too much about how she’s going to be ridden. She’s sweet, a total and utter sweetheart, who loves her training and is very straightforward. To win my first British Group 1 with her would mean a massive amount.”

Jessica Harrington tries again with Jack Naylor, who has something to find to win and who is also held by Pleascach (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) on the form of her fourth to that rival in the May 24 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh.

“Everything has gone well since the Curragh and I’m very pleased with her,” her conditioner commented. “I was delighted with her at the Curragh, she ran a good race. Maybe the winner got first run on her, but she’s traveled over to York well and they’ve had a little bit of rain there. That is a positive for us, as I wouldn’t have wanted rattling fast ground. Every race is different and we will just see what happens.”

Godolphin’s Pleascach has suffered two reversals since the Irish Guineas, missing out by a length to Curvy when runner-up in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot June 18 and finishing fifth 10 days later in the 10-furlong G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh. She has enjoyed a short break and Jim Bolger said, “Pleascach is very well and we are expecting a good performance from her.”

One of the dark horses in a renewal lacking in serious contenders among the older brigade is the French-trained 3-year-old Sea Calisi (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}), Martin Schwartz’s winner of the G2 Prix de Malleret over this trip at Saint-Cloud June 28. That form was let down on Tuesday by the runner-up Kataniya (Ire) (Raven’s Pass) who flopped in the G2 Prix de la Nonette, but this race has played host to some overseas upsets in recent times and she remains unexposed.