True Love opens her campaign with smart success

True Love laid down an early marker for the season ahead with a taking success in the Ballylinch Stud Priory Belle Stakes at Leopardstown.

Putting stamina to the test in the seven-furlong Group Three, Aidan O’Brien’s talented daughter of No Nay Never was the 3-1 joint-favourite for her seasonal return having excelled at two with victories at Royal Ascot, against colts in the Railway Stakes and when picking up top honours in the Cheveley Park.

Always in a handy position, with stablemate Composing leading them along, Ryan Moore edged his mount to the stands rail on rounding the bend for home, asserting their dominance in the closing stages for a length-and-a-quarter verdict over the running-on Magny Cours.

The winner was cut to 8-1 from 12s to last out an extra furlong in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket – a race for which O’Brien already has the top two in the market – Precise and Diamond Necklace.

“She’s a big, pacy mare, whether she’ll get the mile or not it’s hard to know,” said O’Brien.

“Ryan said she travelled very easily and went through the race very easily, so he was very happy, but obviously the mile is what you can’t be sure about.

“Ryan rode her positively, wanting to find out. Obviously if you dropped her in a bit more she might relax a little bit and come home better.

“He gave her a beautiful ride. You couldn’t be sure until you see her do it, she is a big high cruiser and does everything very easily.

“She had a Group One penalty. She was the first out and waited for them to come and lead her. She’s a big classy filly. She’s definitely something to look forward to.”

He added: “Any time we ever won the Newmarket Guineas the fillies ran here.

“She’s definitely a possible for it, depending on how Precise and Diamond Necklace are will decide which of them goes to Newmarket.

“She can go to France if she doesn’t go to Newmarket.”