1000 Guineas win was built on True Love

IN THE world of flat racing, the month of May traditionally heralds the beginning of the season’s Classic races, a collection of Group 1 events seen as the most prestigious in the calendar.

The UK 1000 and 2000 Guineas Stakes, both run at Newmarket since the early 19th century, kick things off followed by their French (Longchamp) and Irish (The Curragh) equivalents over the successive weeks of the month.

The 2000 Guineas, although open to both three-year-old fillies and colts, is generally seen as the colts’ Classic whereas the 1000 Guineas is restricted to three-year-old fillies only and is seen as the fillies’ Classic.

At the time of writing only the UK and French races have taken place and Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien has tasted victory in both female versions thus far.

At Newmarket on May 3, True Love (above), ridden by Wayne Lordan, may well have looked on paper at least, to be the stable’s second string, but the impressiveness of her victory showed her to be anything but. Sent off at 5/1 third favourite of the 19 runners, she had a smooth passage up the centre of the course under a lovely ride by Lordan before pulling clear for a more definitive victory than the two-length margin suggested.

The success gave O’Brien an eighth win in the race—a modern record—with Lordan recording his third after Winter (2017) and Hermosa (2019).

Comments from connections afterwards suggested that the win was slightly surprising, citing concerns over the one-mile trip, but all were effusive in their praise of Lordan’s confident and assured ride to get the horse home.

A week later at Longchamp, on the outskirts of Paris, it was Ryan Moore’s turn to show his skills as he partnered Diamond Necklace (4/5 favourite) to win the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, to give the race it’s proper title. Settled in third or fourth for most of the way, but inside against the rail, Moore showed why he is still the best jockey for the big occasion. Typically nerveless, he was content to wait for the gap to open and once it came he sent his mount through to put the race impressively to bed in a matter of strides.

The three-length success extended the unbeaten record of the striking daughter of St Mark’s Basilica from three to four. She looks a really exciting prospect, and it will be interesting to see where she goes for the rest of the season and beyond.

The Curragh will round off the Guineas action on the 23rd and 24th of this month. After that we are in to Derby season, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and the Galway Festival among others.