Moore opts for True Love in Irish 1000 Guineas
True Love’s electric winning performance in the Group 1 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Newmarket earlier this month has resulted in Ryan Moore switching from stablemate Precise to ride this huge, long-striding filly in the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas (1600m) at the Curragh on Sunday.
Although Precise, a dual Group 1-winning two-year-old, had issues before running at Newmarket, her confirmed stamina led Aidan O’Brien’s first-choice jockey Moore to partner her over True Love. However, on the big day, it was a no contest over the demanding straight course with Wayne Lordan and True Love easily eclipsing their 18 rivals, including Precise, who was five lengths back in seventh.
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O’Brien describes True Love as “an absolute Queen”, outlining the No Nay Never filly’s uniqueness that have underpinned her 1.75 favouritism.
“She is bigger and stronger than the vast majority of colts, and she also achieved something very rare by having the speed to win last year’s Queen Mary Stakes (G2, 1000m) and also being this good over a mile,” the veteran trainer said.
It will be ironic if Precise and Wayne Lordan can topple Moore’s mount in Sunday’s rematch, and it is entirely possible, with O’Brien admitting that Precise’s problems earlier in the year had left her “a little underdone” before Newmarket, although since then, it has been all systems go for this weekend.
True Love jumps from gate one and Precise from gate seven, with the Ballydoyle stable also fielding outsider Beautify (ridden by Ronan Whelan) in the 12-runner contest which includes UK-trained challengers Abashiri (William Buick), Sukanya (Tom Marquand), America Queen (Billy Loughnane) and Hope Queen (Clifford Lee).
Earlier, the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup (2100m) features O’Brien’s Minnie Hauk, the world’s highest-rated mare last year, who boasts a blitz of spectacular 2025 performances, topped by wins in the Group 1 Oaks Stakes (2405m) at Epsom and the Group 1 Irish Oaks (2400m) at the Curragh, only failing to strike gold at ParisLongchamp in October when she was a head behind Daryz in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m).
True Love is ahead of Precise (3.50) and Abashiri (6.50) with betting sites, with the rest of the Irish 1000 Guineas field in double figure odds.
Minnie Hauk is joined by stablemate Edward Hamilton, who earlier this month almost snatched the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes (2000m) when, briefly, it looked as though a bombshell 125/1 victory was on the cards before Minnie Hauk caught him.
Minnie Hauk’s biggest potential threat is Roger Varian-trained, Ray Dawson-ridden Saddadd, a colt whose upward progression was confirmed with victory in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes (1990m) at Sandown.
“He is a relaxed horse with a great attitude, and I think that he will thrive at a track like the Curragh,” Varian said.
