Love showed only useful form as a juvenile, but she was an impressive winner of the 1000 Guineas on her reappearance and, given her stout pedigree, was expected to improve for the step up to a mile and a half in the Oaks. She duly took that step forward at Epsom, producing one of the best performances seen in the Oaks this century, improving her Timeform rating to 124p (from 117p), bolting up by nine lengths in a new record time for the race.
The Oaks was run at a strong gallop and Love saw things out thoroughly, surging to the front over two furlongs out and then forging clear, her nine-length winning margin bettered by only three fillies since the start of the 20th century.
The Ballydoyle runner shapes as if she will get the St Leger trip (her sister, Flattering, stayed a mile and three-quarters) and it would be fascinating were she asked to emulate Oh So Sharp by attempting to complete the fillies’ triple crown. She also shot towards the head of the betting for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and will be a leading player wherever she is aimed.
LOVE ❤️ CONQUERS ALL IN THE INVESTEC OAKS!#EpsomOaks
— Horse Racing Global (@HorseRacingGL) July 4, 2020
Shock Derby winner Serpentine shouldn’t be dismissed
It seems a strange thing to say that a five-and-half-length Derby winner should not be underestimated, but, with debate raging over tactics employed by rival jockeys, there’s a chance the winner, Serpentine (124p from 101p), may not get the credit he deserves.
Analysis of the sectional times show that Serpentine was given a good ride by Emmet McNamara, who injected plenty of pace into the race down the hill and built up a huge lead that his rivals never looked like eroding. However, it should be remembered that Serpentine is an unexposed colt – he won his maiden only seven days before the Derby – and was bred for the job (being by Galileo out of a mare placed in the Oaks).
Time may well show that he was the best horse in the race, for all he was seen to good effect under an enterprising ride.
Congratulations to Serpentine for a thrilling upset victory in the #EpsomDerby! ?????
— Sport of Kings World (@SportofKingsWld) July 5, 2020
Ghaiyyath now the second highrest-rated horse in training
Ghaiyyath had already proved he was a top-class performer under the right circumstances, but the question mark was whether he needed to be fresh to show his best form. He emphatically proved that not to be the case at Sandown as he gave Enable 3 lb and a two-and-quarter-length beating just 30 days after slamming his rivals in the Coronation Cup at Newmarket.
Charlie Appleby’s charge was able to maintain a relentless gallop that other really talented horses simply cannot live with, and he did just that in the Eclipse. It was a career-best performance from Ghaiyyath, who improved his Timeform rating to 133 (from 131) and he is the second highest-rated horse in training behind only Battaash.
It was a creditable performance from Enable and she is entitled to come on for the run, but she may struggle to reverse the form with Ghaiyyath, who suffered a few setbacks earlier in his career but now looks like the finished article.
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