Curragh Palmer adds Group 3 to Classic haul

Covert Love’s victory in the Irish Darley Oaks was only her trainer’s fourth in Group company and his first ever at Group 1 level, underlining that this has been no ordinary weekend for Newmarket-based Palmer.

“I thought he’d win – but I didn’t think he’d win like that!” he gasped after Home Of The fearless beat the favourite Gordon Lord Byron by three-and-a-half lengths. “He always showed he was a horse with wonderful speed from Christmas as a yearling”.

After finishing sixth in the Newmarket Guineas, over a mile, and filling the same position in the Commonwealth Cup, over six furlongs at Ascot, yesterday’s seven-furlong trip seemed to really suit the son of Starspangledbanner.

“Teaching him to settle and not do everything in the first hundred yards has been the thing, and he did that perfectly today”.

“The Hungerford Stakes would look the obvious next target”.

Duke explained: “Myself and Pat go back a long way and are really good friends so I was under a bit of pressure. The Prix Maurice de Gheest might be his Group One next year”.

The supplementary entry fee to put her into yesterday’s race – which had to be paid by last Tuesday – was the not inconsequential sum of €40,000. With a furlong to run Covert Love easily reeled in the tiring front-runner and then stayed on to deny Jack Naylor by 1 3/4 lengths.

He is now determined to build on Covert Love’s breakthrough win and added to it immediately as James Doyle-ridden Home Of The fearless won Sunday’s Group Three Minstrel Stakes back at the Curragh.

“Hopefully she’s a filly with a future”, said the trainer.

The victor carried the colours of the trainer’s wife, Jackie, and they were also carried to success in the nursery, when the Brendan Duke-trained Leath Na Hoibre justified heavy support (4-1 to 5-2).

Jim Bolger’s Leafy Shade (100/30) made a pleasing debut when opening her account in the opening juvenile fillies maiden under Kevin Manning.

“We went some gallop”, Smullen told Racing Post. “She would have no problem with another furlong or a mile”.