In a stunning display of speed and stamina, True Love stormed to victory in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, securing legendary Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien an unprecedented eighth win in this prestigious fillies' Classic. The race, one of the most anticipated events on the flat racing calendar, saw the 5-1 chance pull away in the final furlong of the one-mile contest, leaving spectators and pundits alike in awe.
Jockey Wayne Lordan, who now boasts a hat-trick of 1,000 Guineas victories following wins on Winter (2017) and Hermosa (2019), executed a masterful ride. He expertly navigated from the nearside rails to hit the front in the center of the 19-strong field, finishing one and three-quarter lengths clear of Evolutionist (16-1) in second place. Venetian Lace sealed third at 33-1, while pre-race favorite Precise—another O'Brien runner—finished well down in seventh at 9-5 odds.
"Stepping up to the mile was a little bit of a question mark for her because she is a filly with loads of pace," Lordan shared with ITV Sport. "But I got into a nice position and she settled really well—then it was just a matter of time before letting her move forward. She's got everything about her. She is progressing all the time."
Owner and breeder Michael Tabor admitted that even O'Brien had doubts about True Love's stamina, but the trainer's confidence ultimately prevailed. "I am speechless," said Tabor after True Love's impressive victory in the 213th running of the Classic. "This morning, speaking to him, he wasn't overconfident to say the least, either about True Love or Precise. We thought there was a doubt about True Love getting the trip... but year in, year out he produces the goods."
Precise entered the race with strong credentials, having won four of her five juvenile starts including the Fillies' Mile over the same course and distance. However, she was never in contention on the far side of the course. True Love, meanwhile, added this Classic to her Group One-winning two-year-old performance at Newmarket in the Cheveley Park Stakes, proving that her speed can translate to longer distances.
O'Brien summed up the achievement with typical modesty: "You couldn't be sure she was going to get a mile. She's a Queen Mary winner, and it's very unusual for a Queen Mary winner to get a mile." Yet, as the racing world now knows, True Love is anything but ordinary—a true champion rising to the occasion when it mattered most.