A supplementary entry at a cost of £35,000, Covert Love is unbeaten in four starts over the past three and a half months, culminating in victory in the Irish Oaks. The rate of her progress has been astounding – on her last visit to York she was rated just 83 when winning a handicap on 30 May. Less than 12 weeks on, she has officially improved by 32 pounds.

Irish challengers have a good recent record in this race (four wins in the last nine years) and a five-strong raiding party is led by Jack Naylor and Curvy. They were less than two lengths behind Covert Love when second and third in the Irish Oaks.

Another Irish visitor is Pleascach, the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner who chased home Curvy in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Aidan O’Brien completes the Irish contingent with two Listed winners, Easter and Outstanding.

Lady Of Dubai suffered from serious traffic problems when sixth in the Qatar Nassau Stakes last time out but previously had Jack Naylor behind her in sixth when third in the Investec Oaks.

Crystal Zvedza was even further behind in the Investec Oaks. However, she hails from the yard of Sir Michael Stoute, who is bidding to become the first trainer to win this prestigious prize on ten occasions.

French hopes are carried by the Group 2 Prix de Malleret heroine, Sea Calisi. Her trainer, Francois Doumen, is best known on this side of The Channel for the exploits of his steeplechasers yet three years ago plundered another Group 1 flat prize for fillies – the Sun Chariot Stakes – with Siyouma.

A field of 11 is completed by Lustrous and Miss Marjurie, second and third in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Covert Love, said:

“Covert Love has been great since the Irish Oaks – I’m absolutely delighted with her.”

“The £35,000 supplementary fee is a lot of money but luckily it’s her money, money that she won at The Curragh, and it was not a difficult decision at all because the Darley Yorkshire Oaks was the obvious race for her.”

“She beat Jack Naylor and Curvy last time, who she meets again. Now she has got to take on the older generation, but she has already beaten older fillies at Newcastle, albeit only in a Listed race.”

“The strong pace in Ireland suited her but she has made her own running and is very amenable – we have never had to think too much about how she’s going to be ridden.”

“Up until now a different jockey has ridden her in every race, and none of them have done anything wrong, but Pat [Smullen] is the man that has won a Group 1 on her so he keeps the ride.”

“As my first Group 1 winner she will always be a very special filly to me and one day I hope to have a painting of her. She’s sweet, a total and utter sweetheart, who loves her training and is very straightforward.”

“To win my first British Group 1 with her would mean a massive amount.”

The Darley Yorkshire Oaks is race six in the Fillies & Mares division of the QIPCO British Champions Series:

1. QIPCO 1000 Guineas (1m, 3yo), Newmarket, Sunday 3 May – won by LEGATISSIMO
2. Investec Oaks (1m 4f, 3yo), Epsom, Friday 5 June – won by QUALIFY
3. Coronation Stakes (1m, 3yo), Royal Ascot, Friday 19 June – won by ERVEDYA
4. Falmouth Stakes (1m, 3yo+), Newmarket, Friday 10 July – won by AMAZING MARIA
5. Qatar Nassau Stakes (1m 2f, 3yo+), Goodwood, Saturday 1 August – won by LEGATISSIMO
6. Darley Yorkshire Oaks (1m 4f, 3yo+ Fillies), York, Thursday 20 August
7. QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (1m 4f, 3yo+), Ascot, Saturday 17 October

The upcoming QIPCO British Champions Series races are:  

About the QIPCO British Champions Series

The QIPCO British Champions Series is designed to throw the spotlight on Britain’s best Flat races and will climax on 17 October 2015 with the richest fixture in British racing history, QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot.

The Series features 35 Flat races staged at ten of the UK’s leading racecourses: Ascot, Doncaster, Epsom Downs, Goodwood, Haydock Park, Newbury, Newmarket’s July Course, Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, Sandown Park and York.

It encompasses the top races at British racing’s key festivals, including the QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket, the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom, Royal Ascot, the Newmarket July Festival, The Qatar Goodwood Festival, the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York and the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster.

The QIPCO British Champions Series comprises five easy-to-follow champion categories - Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies & Mares.

The official 2015 Championships for Flat jockeys and owners will run from Newmarket's QIPCO Guineas Festival (2 May, 2015) and conclude at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day (17 October, 2015).

Courtesy: http://www.irbracing.com