Hugo Palmer says there is a possibility Covert Love could be forced to miss the Yorkshire Oaks if the Knavesmire comes up too fast.
Palmer’s intention is to take the daughter of Azamour to the Ebor Meeting at York later this month but he has cautioned that a prolonged dry spell could see him sidestep that plan.
The owning syndicate have already shown they are willing to stump up in order to supplement their filly for a big race and they were duly rewarded when she stepped into Group One company for the first time at the Curragh last month and won the Irish Oaks at the Curragh.
Palmer said the idea of paying £35,000 to get a place in the Leger field is very much on their radar.
“It’s all systems go for York at the moment but she does need supplementing and I don’t want to run her on August baking ground.
“If Yorkshire gets a hot spell for two and a half weeks we might have to think about stumping up 35 grand, but we are working with that in mind,” he told At The Races.
Palmer confirmed he believes a mile-and-a-half to be the optimum trip for Covert Love but he is equally sure she would handle 1m6f around Doncaster if required.
He is, however, ruling out taking in both races with Ascot‘s Champions Day also very much to the fore in his thinking for later in the season.
“If she wasn’t to go to York we’d have to think of the St Leger.
“I’m sure she’d stay the Leger trip. I doubt very much she’d go to York and Doncaster as the most obvious race for her is the Fillies’ And Mares’ race at Ascot’s Champions meeting – if you could tailor-make a race for her it would be that,” he added.
