A strong card at The Curragh on Darley Irish Oaks day was dominated by some superb displays from Goffs graduates. Orby graduate COVERT LOVE took the top honours when winning the Group 1 Darley Irish Oaks for trainer Hugo Palmer, giving him his first Group 1 success.
Covert Love, a filly by Azamour, has now won 4 of her 5 starts and looks to be improving all the time. Ridden to perfection by Pat Smullen she went on to win by 1¾ lengths and gave the FOMO Syndicate a day to remember. Covert Love was purchased at the Orby Sale in 2013 by Hugo Merry Bloodstock for €26,000 from Oaklawn Stud. She was due to be sold in the Goffs London Sale as lot ?? but was withdrawn in what now looks to be the most fortuitous decision.
Earlier in the day Sportsman’s Graduate FINAL FRONTIER fought bravely to land the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes by a neck from Orby Graduate Miss Katie Mae. Final Frontier was purchased by BBA Ireland from Ballylinch Stud for €37,000 in the Sportsman’s Sale and is likely to be seen next in the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend.
Goffs 2yo graduates continued their winning ways over the weekend with Orby graduates SHOGUN successful for Aidan O’Brien at the Curragh and SHARAAKAH for Ed Dunlop at Newmarket.
Entries for the Orby and Sportsman’s Sales have flooded in and are now closing. Catalogues will be available on-line from 12 August.