Dual Classic heroine Love is the headline name confirmed for next week’s Darley Yorkshire Oaks.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly has been in imperious form this season, following up a dominant victory in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket in June with an even better performance over a mile and a half in last month’s Oaks at Epsom.
If the daughter of Galileo can continue her flawless form then she could well be the leading rival to Enable for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in early October.
Love is certainly expected to boost those claims at York next week, with O’Brien having also entered multiple Group One winner Magical and Epsom runner-up Ennistymon in the eight-strong field for the Group 1 race.
John Gosden opted against running Enable in the Yorkshire Oaks, although he will be able to call upon Frankly Darling and Franconia, who is a recent winner on the Knavesmire track.
Manuela De Vega was an impressive winner in both the Pinnacle Stakes and the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock earlier this season and will also run at York for Ralph Beckett, while the Jessica Harrington-trained One Voice and Sir Mark Prescott’s Alpinista complete the field.
