Classic winner and dual Group 1 heroine Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}–Wing Stealth {Ire}, by Hawk Wing) has been retired from racing due to a strained ligament, trainer Hugo Palmer announced Sunday.
“Very sadly we have had to retire Covert Love, which is a great shame,” Palmer said. “She has a strained ligament, it came to light this morning with a swollen joint and is a stark reminder of why the big days are so special. It's obviously disappointing for her owners, who were looking forward to Royal Ascot and the season beyond, for Glen Magee, who rides her at home, and for all the team.”
The filly, bred by Sommerville Bloodstock and raced by Fomo Syndicate, was one of last season's success stories, improving dramatically as the year progressed. She won a fillies handicap at York last May rated 83 and stepped up again to win a listed race at Newcastle a month later before connections bravely supplemented her for the G1 Darley Irish Oaks last July. It proved an inspired investment as the filly showed class and determination to win under Pat Smullen. A narrow defeat to Pleascach (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks preceded her second top-level victory when she got the better of Jazzi Top (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines at Longchamp. In what proved to be her final start Covert Love finished an honourable fourth to Simple Verse (Ire) in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares S. at Ascot last October. In total, Covert Love retires with a record of 8-5-1-0 and $731,742 in earnings.
Reflecting on the filly that provided him with a first Classic success Palmer added, “She gave us some special days last year and we will miss her hugely, but she owes us absolutely nothing. She doesn't know there's anything wrong with her, she's only very fractionally lame at the trot, but we would be unduly risking her. The saddest thing is she is a big, rangy filly and what she achieved at three was fairly remarkable – she looked and seemed so much better at four.”
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