Love conquers all in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes

Love was made to dig deep to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, but she was more than up to the task. Having her first run since last year, Aidan O’Brien’s star needed all her class to prevail in the Group 1 contest.

Love was sent on early by Ryan Moore with a steady pace in the opening stages and an even gallop ensued. Rounding the turn Moore began to push away on the mare as they turned to face the home stretch. The dangers came in the form of strong-travelling Sangarius, Audarya and stablemate Armory down the straight. Sangarius flattered to deceive and fell away early. But Audarya was to provide much stiffer opposition.

Audarya came with a threatening run down the outside, that looked to the eye like a winning one. However, with every question asked, Love was able to answer. She kept pulling out just enough all the way to the line, and added a fifth Group 1 to her CV.

The win provided Aidan O’Brien with his 75th Royal Ascot winner. He looked to future targets for the mare after the race, saying: “All those races are open to her. King George (VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO)), Coral-Eclipse, and it’ll be up the lads to see what they want to do next.”