RACING: Pearl Of Love advertised his claims for the 2,000 Guineas with an impressive victory in the Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday. Ladbrokes reacted by cutting Mark Johnston's colt to 16 to 1 for Newmarket from 25 to 1.
Darryll Holland described the 5 to 4 favourite as "a proper Guineas horse" after romping to a three-and-a-half-length success over Aidan O'Brien's pair, the outsider Tumblebrutus, a full-brother to Giant's Causeway, and the second favourite The Mighty Tiger.
"There was a fifth gear there which I didn't have to go for," added Holland as he was congratulated by Irish-born owner Mick Doyle and the trainer's wife Deirdre after the Group Two contest. Mrs Johnston said: "I flew from Deauville this morning, where Mark is at the sales, as I didn't want to miss this horse's run.
"He was spot on today at his perfect racing weight. We may come back in three weeks for the National Stakes - whatever he runs in next it will be a Group One and his last run of the season." Mrs Johnston revealed: "He had a little abscess on a foot the week after Ascot (Chesham Stakes win), but he was getting a break anyway and we were always looking more to next year with him."
It was a great afternoon for British raiders as Mick Channon's Majestic Desert overcame a bad draw and a slow start to justify favouritism in the Tattersalls Breeders Stakes.
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