Love conquers all to give O'Brien sixth 1000 Guineas victory

MOORE THE MERRIER: Ryan Moore on board Love on their way to winning The Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket. Pic: PA

Graham Clark

Love breezed away from the opposition to give Aidan O’Brien a sixth victory in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket yesterday.

The Ballydoyle handler fielded just one runner in the Classic and Love emphatically turned around last year’s Fillies’ Mile form with Quadrilateral to claim a cosy success under Ryan Moore.

Cloak Of Spirits set the early pace with 11-4 favourite Quadrilateral racing very keenly on her heels, while Moore settled Love (4-1) on the outside of the pack.

She travelled extremely well throughout the mile contest and when Moore gave the signal, Love picked up in fine style and shot clear in the final furlong to win by four and a quarter lengths. Cloak Of Spirits kept on for second, with Quadrilateral a head back in third.

O’Brien said: “We’re delighted with her. She was doing everything right all through the winter and the spring. She’s a lovely filly. We always thought she would get much further than a mile. She showed she got a mile last year and we always thought we’d start here and then maybe go on to the Oaks and I think that’s what the lads were thinking about doing.

“She was well and that was her target all the time. Ryan gave her a beautiful ride, very uncomplicated, he got her in a lovely rhythm and I couldn't have been happier really. He had her well balanced into the dip, she’s very genuine and she had her head out and ran to the line.”

The Guineas was being run a month later than originally planned due to the coronavirus shutdown and O’Brien admitted the situation presented some challenges.

He said: “It was a little bit tricky as it was a bit stop and start, usually it’s a little bit dangerous when you do that. You have a target, you think you have a target and you have to train for it and then it moves - it just makes it a little bit complicated.

“She’s a beautifully-bred filly by Galileo and I’m delighted for the lads. She’s a special filly.”

Love is now as low as 6-4 with Coral for the Investec Oaks at Epsom on July 4 and O’Brien believes 12 furlongs should be within Love’s compass.

“The distance from the Guineas to the Oaks should be perfect for her.”