Daughter of Galileo chalks up fourth Group 1 at York on Thursday
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Love (3 f Galileo - Pikaboo by Pivotal) etched her name onto a fourth Group 1 prize when she took out the Yorkshire Oaks (Gr 1, 1m4f) at York on Thursday.
A winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) as a juvenile, Love has gone to another level as a three-year-old winning the 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) in June and was last seen taking out the Oaks (Gr 1, 1m4f) at Epsom in July.
Sent off the short-priced favourite on Friday and she never looked like she was going to let her supporters down, pulling away in the closing to beat Alpinista (Frankel) by an emphatic five lengths, while One Voice (Poet’s Voice) was a further two lengths away in third.
“It was straightforward. Realistically, I thought it was her easiest task for a while,” said winning jockey Ryan Moore. “There were some unexposed fillies in the race, but they needed to step up to her level.
“She was very professional. The ground is a bit dead today and it was a worry as when I rode her in the Debutante last year (finished fifth), the ground was a little bit too slow for her. She’s obviously got a bit stronger and the step up in trip has possibly helped.
“She’s been exceptional on every start this year. The Arc has always been in the back of everyone’s minds and we’re six weeks away, so I suppose they’ll see how she is.”
Love regained favouritism for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) with a number of betting firms and Moore said the race was looking a hard one.
“I’d say Ghaiyyath’s stock has gone up and Enable’s has gone up, so the Arc will be a hard race.
“We haven’t seen the Derby winner (Serpentine) since (Epsom). Everyone has their own opinion on that race, but I still think he was a very good winner.”
Love is out of the unplaced Pivotal (Polar Falcon) mare Pikaboo who has produced six winners from as many foals to race including the dual Group 2 winner Lucky Kristale (Lucky Story) and Love's Group 3 winning sisters Peach Tree and Flattering.
Love's second dam is the dual winning Danehill (Danzig) mare Gleam Of Light who produced eight winners headed by multiple Group 2 winner Arabian Gleam (Kyllachy) and dual Listed winner Kimberella (Kyllachy).
Gleam Of Light is also the grandam of Group 3 winner Skia (Motivator) and Listed scorer Tropias (Excellent Art), while last week’s Midsummer Stakes (Listed, 1m) winner Pogo (Zebedee) is out of another daughter of Gleam Of Light.
The last time Pikaboo was sold at public auction was in 2012 when bought for 50,000gns by the Venner family at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale. She was then purchased privately by Coolmore the following year.
Love is another example of the potency of the perennial stallion when mated with daughters of Pivotal (Polar Falcon), with the nick producing 12 stakes winners, headed by six Group 1 winners, including the top-class filly Magical, who finished second in the Juddmonte International Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2f) on Wednesday.
Coolmore Stud-based sire Galileo has stood for a private fee since 2008, and he will be represented in Australia this season by his sire sons Adelaide, Churchill and Highland Reel.
Love
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 20, 2020
Ten races
Six victories
Four-time G1 winner
1000 Guineas
Oaks
Yorkshire Oaks
A superstar
Love is magnificent under Ryan Moore in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks to provide Aidan O'Brien with a fifth success in the G1 event @yorkracecourse @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/9rjCMDVtJO
