Covert Love wins the Irish Oaks ( Pat Healy/PA Wire)
Covert Love has given English trainer Hugo Palmer an early wedding present and his first Classic triumph in the Gr1 Irish Oaks at the Curragh.
Pat Smullen brought the daughter of Azamour to head long-time leader Together Forever a furlong (200m) from home and storm to victory by 1-3/4 lengths.
“I’m to be married next Saturday so this is the last time I can ever say this is the best day of my life,” Palmer said.
“I’m terrified I’ll wake up and find myself still in my bed in Newmarket. I couldn’t be more excited.
“Aidan’s horse (Together Forever) went off like a scalded cat and I loved the way Pat took her back and made his own running and let that one go as a hare.
“There’s still time to put her in the St Leger. We might wait and see what the weather does in August and maybe think about the Yorkshire Oaks.
“We paid E40,000 (R538 000) to come here as a supplementary entry. At that point that was every penny she had won in prize money.
“I’m delighted the syndicate allowed us to do it.
“She’s a lightly-raced, young filly. I genuinely believe her biggest days, if they get any bigger than this, could well be ahead of her.”
- 1. COVERT LOVE (IRE) by AZAMOUR (IRE) — WING STEALTH (IRE) (HAWK WING (USA))
- bred by Sommerville Bloodstock
- trained by H. Palmer
- ridden by P. Smulen
- 2. JACK NAYLOR (GB) by CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) — FASHIONABLE (GB) (NASHWAN (USA)) [sales history]
- bred by Oliver Costello
- trained by J. Harrington
- ridden by F. Berry
- 3. CURVY (GB) by GALILEO (IRE) — FRAPPE (IRE) (INCHINOR (GB)) [sales history]
- bred by Norelands & Hugo Lascelles
- trained by D. Wachman
- ridden by W. Lordan
