'Love' Conquers All in Irish Oaks
Description:
Covert Love found success in a big step up in class and a stretch out July 18 at the Curragh, landing the Darley Irish Oaks (Ire-I) to stay unbeaten this year.
The Azamour filly, trained by Hugo Palmer for FOMO Syndicate, tracked pacesetter Together Forever from second as that rival established a clear advantage and an honest pace. With a furlong to run Covert Love easily reeled in the tiring front-runner and then stayed on to deny Jack Naylor by 1 3/4 lengths. Favorite Curvy was third.
With Pat Smullen at the reins, Covert Love was timed in 2:30.38 for 1 1/2 miles on good turf.
Supplemented to the 1 1/2-mile classic for €40,000 (US$43,317), the progressive filly was entered with three consecutive victories this season, all at about 1 1/4 miles, including the listed Betfred TV/E.B.F. Stallions Hoppings Stakes June 26 at Newcastle in her previous start.
"We went some gallop," Smullen told Racing Post. "We were confident the filly would stay and I was keen not to let Seamie (Heffernan aboard Together Forever) get too far away as he was on a very good filly. All the credit must go to Hugo, he got the filly here in serious form and we knew stamina was her forte, she'll go further.
"She's a classy filly and I'm delighted for the owners as they took a big gamble in supplementing her. She's a lovely big filly who's improving all the time and I think there's more improvement in her."
Covert Love was bred in Ireland by Sommerville Bloodstock from the Hawk Wing mare Wing Stealth. The mare is a half sister to the stakes-placed Portrait of A Lady, the dam of the group I-placed stakes winner Miss You Too.
Hugo Merry Bloodstock purchased Covert Love from Oaklawn Stud, agent, for €26,000 ($35,168) at the 2013 Goffs Orby yearling sale. The filly is from the same family as Hong Kong Horse of the Year Designs On Rome and 2004 Irish Derby (Ire-I) winner Grey Swallow.