3 minute read
Dual Group One winner Covert Love could start off her 2016 campaign in the Group Two Betfred Middleton Stakes at York on May 12 before she takes on the colts.
Covert Love did trainer Hugo Palmer proud in the last campaign, winning the Irish Oaks and the Prix de l'Opera as well as finishing a close second to Pleascach in the Yorkshire Oaks on the Knavesmire.
Palmer has ambitious plans for the filly that could take in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, Eclipse Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
"Covert Love is in great form. She looks fantastic - she's much bigger and stronger than she was last year," said the Newmarket trainer.
"Granted a decent racing surface, I would have thought we'd be turning up at the Middleton - she won't run before.
"I'd like, at some point, to have a go at the colts. If we don't run in the Middleton that means we'd be taking on the colts first time.
"We might have to go to the Prince of Wales's first time, the Eclipse or even the King George.
"I'd like her to go to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup. She is a Group One winner over 10 and 12 furlongs - the world's her oyster."
The David Elsworth-trained Arabian Queen, who lowered the colours of Derby and Arc hero Golden Horn in the Juddmonte International at York's Ebor meeting, is among 26 entries for the Middleton.
There are just four from Ireland - Eddie Lynam's Agnes Stewart, Pat Fahy's Ballybacka Queen, Jessica Harrington's Bocca Baciata and Fluff, from Aidan O'Brien's stable.
Trainer Charlie Hills looks to have a strong hand for the Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes on the opening day of the meeting on May 11.
The £120,000 Group Two contest has attracted 48 entries, including his trio from Hills' Lambourn stable - Strath Burn and Magical Memory, second and third in the Group One Haydock Sprint Cup, and Listed winner Cotai Glory.
Hills said: "We are looking to go straight to the Duke of York with Strath Burn. He is well. Magical Memory is coming along and I think we shall look to run him somewhere before York.
"I have also entered Cotai Glory in the Duke of York. We are also looking at running him somewhere before and we shall know more then.
"We are some way off but I am happy with how they have all wintered."
Haydock Sprint Cup hero Twilight Son, trained by Henry Candy, holds an entry, while John Gosden has put in the three-year-old Shalaa, who won the Group One Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes last season.
Among 10 Irish-trained possibles are three from Eddie Lynam's yard - Sole Power, Moviesta and Fort Del Oro - and Evanna McCutcheon's Maarek, winner of this race in 2013.
