Love and Audarya could lock horns again in the 10-furlong G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes (29 entries) for fillies and mares on Thursday, July 29.
The duo both ran mighty races on their seasonal returns to finish first and second against the boys in the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Love coming out on top by three-parts of a length.
Audarya was having her first start since providing trainer James Fanshawe with a memorable first Breeders’ Cup success in the G1 Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland in November. The daughter of Wootton Basset also captured the G1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August.
Fanshawe said: “Audarya has only been doing steady canters since Royal Ascot, but she seems very well.
“The Prince Of Wales’s Stakes was her first run of the year, so you are never totally sure what to expect, and the same applied to Love obviously, but I was just really pleased with her performance and the way she has come out of the race.
“She has a couple of other entries beforehand, but the Qatar Nassau Stakes is a really nice race to aim for. Thanks to the support of Qatar, the prize money is fantastic, and it usually throws up a good clash between the three-year-olds and the older fillies and mares.”
Love’s trainer Aidan O’Brien has a formidable eight-strong team in total, with Love joined by Classic winners Snowfall, Mother Earth, Joan Of Arc and Empress Josephine.
Snow Lantern (Richard Hannon) could tackle a mile and a quarter for the first time following her encouraging second in the G1 Coronation Stakes, as could G1 Lockinge Stakes runner-up Lady Bowthorpe (William Jarvis).
Ebaiyra (Alain de Royer-Dupre) is the sole French-trained entry following a decisive success in the G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud in May.
The Qatar Nassau Stakes is part of the British Champions Series.
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