O’brien has grounds for optimism as Love goes for glory in Prince of Wales’s
Love will finally get the chance to build on her perfect threeyear-old season when she reappears in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Aidan O'brien's filly was favourite for the Prix de l'arc de Triomphe until she was ruled out on account of the soft ground - before the contaminated feed scare which resulted in some of his string being unable to run in any case at Parislongchamp in October.
Love, a Group One winner at two in the Moyglare Stud Stakes as well, was imperious last summer - winning the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks by an aggregate of 18 and a quarter lengths.
Several options this season have come and gone, with O'brien waiting for her preferred quick surface - and she will have that in her favour today. "She's been waiting to start back a while - and while the ground is right, we're keen to get her started," said O'brien. "Her other option was the Pretty Polly (June 27 at the Curragh), and we could have waited for that against her own sex - but by then the ground could have gone (soft) again. She's in good form, she's ready to start again."
The Ballydoyle trainer also runs Armory, placed in both the Irish Champion Stakes and the Cox Plate last year.
He returned to action with a stylish victory at Chester over the reopposing Sangarius.
"This race has always been the plan for Armory - and that is why he went to Chester, to
get ready for it," said O'brien.
"We were delighted with him at Chester and we've been delighted with him since as well. Going to Chester, we were a little bit worried about how he'd handle the soft ground but good, fast ground is what he likes and needs."
John and Thady Gosden's Lord North was very impressive in winning this race 12 months ago, and returned to that sort of form when successful in the Dubai Turf last time out. He was found to be
bleeding after the race, but Gosden senior has confirmed it was nothing serious.
"He whacked his head on the gate - he's a lunatic in the gate, which was where the blood came from," he said.
"The reason he was gelded was because he almost destroyed the gate at Newcastle one day. At the Breeders' Cup last year the gates opened, and he went up into the rafters.
"It will be exciting taking on Love. She was exceptional last year, but she only raced
against her own sex. I also like Armory a lot. It's a nice edition - one of those small but select fields."
James Fanshawe’s Audarya, William Haggas' My Oberon and David Simcock's Desert Encounter complete the field.
In yesterday’s action, Poetic Flare produced a performance of supreme brilliance to leave his rivals toiling in the St James's Palace Stakes.
Kevin Manning had Jim Bolger’s 2000 Guineas winner in the box seat throughout
and waited until a furlong and a half out before pushing the button and the response was immediate. The 7-2 favourite shot clear and crossed the line four and a quarter lengths clear of Lucky Vega. Battleground ran on for third.
Palace Pier, ridden by Frankie Dettori, was a comfortable winner of the Queen Anne Stakes, the opening race of this year's Royal meeting, while Oxted was triumphant in the King's Stand Stakes under Cieren Fallon.