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1,000 Guineas winner lands famous double
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Love (3 f Galileo - Pikaboo by Pivotal) - who won last month’s 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) - produced an ultra dominant performance to win the Oaks (Gr 1, 1m4f) at Epsom on Saturday, becoming the 49th filly to land the famous double and the first since Minding (Galileo) in 2016.
The daughter of the peerless Coolmore Stud sire Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) was settled near the rear of the field by Ryan Moore as her stablemate Passion (Galileo) and Tiempo Vuela (Lope De Vega) set a furious pace up at the front. As the field entered the straight Moore sent Love to catch the leaders and responded in fine style to saunter to nine length victory over Ennistymon (Galileo), while Frankly Darling (Frankel) finished a further three-quarters of a length adrift in third.
Now the winner of five of her nine career starts, this was the filly's third win at elite level having taken out the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) as a two-year-old and the Newmarket Classic on her previous start.
O’Brien, who was enjoying an eighth win in the race, was effusive in his praise for the filly after her win.
"Everyone was very happy with her and I'm delighted for everyone. She's a total homebred and I'm delighted for the lads. We put in so much day in, day out,” said O’Brien.
While Moore added: "She was exceptional today. We always thought she was very good. She proved that in the Guineas and took another step forward. She loved the trip and one of her best furlongs was her last. She couldn't have been any more impressive. You never expect to win an Oaks by that far."
Galileo - who moved one clear of Danehill’s (Danzig) record haul of 84 Group 1s last month - was represented by his fourth winner in the Epsom Classic, having won it in 2012 with Was. His second daughter to land the Group 1 was Minding 2016 and like Love she took out 1,000 Guineas en route to the Epsom Classic, while Together Forever landed the coveted Group 1 in 2018.
Love is out of the unplaced Pivotal (Polar Falcon) mare Pikaboo who has produced six winners from as many foals to race including the dual Group 2 winner Lucky Kristale (Lucky Story) and Love's Group 3 winning sisters Peach Tree and Flattering.
Love's second dam is the dual winning Danehill (Danzig) mare Gleam Of Light who produced eight winners headed by multiple Group 2 winner Arabian Gleam (Kyllachy) and dual Listed winner Kimberella (Kyllachy).
Gleam Of Light is also the grandam of Group 3 winner Skia (Motivator) and Listed scorer Tropias (Excellent Art), while last week’s Midsummer Stakes (Listed, 1m) winner Pogo (Zebedee) is out of another daughter of Gleam Of Light.
The last time Pikaboo was sold at public auction was in 2012 when bought for 50,000gns by the Venner family at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale. She was then purchased privately by Coolmore the following year.
Love is another example of the potency of the perennial stallion when mated with daughters of Pivotal (Polar Falcon), with the nick producing 12 stakes winners, headed by six Group 1 winners, including the top-class filly Magical.
All you need is Love!
— Epsom Downs Racecourse (@EpsomRacecourse) July 4, 2020
Love prevails and goes on to land the @Investec Oaks under Ryan Moore for Aidan O'Brien, @Ballydoyle #InvestecDerbyDay pic.twitter.com/rHbL2MB3hi
