The second day was lit up by quality with Love putting up a superbly gritty display in the Prince Of Wales Stakes 2021; one that suggest; she’s going to be at the top table for all the major middle-distance events this summer and beyond.
There’s no doubt she will improve for this and we have not seen the best of her by a long way; it might be the same for the remarkable Aidan O’Brien outfit after the trainer equalled Henry Cecil’s record of winners with Love’s victory.
As the runners entered the straight, the race started to hot up, with Audarya and Armory moving into challenging positions. First-up off a 300-day break; the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly fended off Audarya and last year’s Cox Plate runner-up, Armory, to salute by three-quarters of a length in the 2000m feature; having won three Group 1 races in the 1000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks before heading to the 2021 Paddock Stakes last August; the daughter of Galileo was sent around as an even-money favourite in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes under one of the world’s best; Ryan Moore.
She’s very genuine, said trainer Aidan O’Brien.
“She’s a high-class filly,” “First run since last August … I’m sure she’ll improve but delighted with her today.” “I’m delighted that the lads decided to do this and wait until the ground came right, that was a lovely place to start; in Royal Ascot, there’s nowhere better.” “I’m sure she’ll come off her run and she’s a very honest filly with a lot of ability. “Hopefully she’ll come well through it and be there as the year goes on.”
Prince of Wales Stakes History
The event was established in 1862; and it was named after the Prince of Wales at that time, the future King Edward VII. The original version was restricted to three-year-olds, and it was contested over 1 mile and 5 furlongs. The race was discontinued after World War II, when there was no Prince of Wales. It returned in 1968, a year before the investiture of Prince Charles. The distance of the new version was 1 mile and 2 furlongs; and it was now open to horses aged three or older.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971; and for a period the Prince of Wales’s Stakes was classed at Group 2 level. It was promoted to Group 1 status in 2000; and at this point the minimum age of participating horses was raised to four.
The Prince of Wales Stakes is currently held on the second day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting.
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