Love Conquers All In Epsom Oaks

Love (3f Galileo - Pikaboo, by Pivotal) proved a class above her talented rivals when racing out a truly impressive winner of the Epsom Oaks on Saturday.

A Group 3 and Group 1 winner as a juvenile, Aidan O’Brien’s charge showed she had trained on when taking last month’s 1,000 Guineas by over four lengths. She was sent off favourite for her first attempt over a mile and a half and raced towards the back of the field under Ryan Moore. Pushed along to improve her position from over three furlongs out, she led approaching the two furlong pole and raced clear to win by nine lengths. Stablemate Ennistymon (Galileo) kept on to take second under Seamie Heffernan.

Moore poured deserved praise on the winner after the race, saying, “She was exceptional today. You never expect to win the Oaks like that. She was exceptional.” Indeed, the rider felt her Oaks success was superior to her Guineas performance, saying, “For me, she took another step forward [from the Guineas]. She loved the trip and for me her best furlong was her last furlong. She’s got a great temperament and is a lovely mover and, for me, she couldn’t have been any more impressive.”

In completing the Guineas and Oaks double for Moore and O’Brien, Love repeats the feat of the brilliant Minding (Galileo). The Irish Oaks, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and St Leger were all later mentioned by O’Brien as possible targets for Love.

Owned by Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Mrs John Magnier, Love was bred by Coolmore out of Pikaboo. She is a full-sister to Munster Oaks heroine Flattering (Galileo) and dual Stakes winner Peach Tree (Galileo), while half-sister Lucky Kristale captured two Group 2 contests as a juvenile.