Pearl of Love Dominates Galileo Futurity

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Pearl of Love and jockey Darryll Holland made every step a winning one in winning the Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes (Ire-II) impressively by 3 1/2 lenghts at The Curragh on Saturday.

Trainer Mark Johnston's 2-year-old left little doubt that he is a candidate for the 2,000 Guineas. The 5-4 favorite covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.5 on good to firm going.

"This is a proper 2,000 Guineas horse," Holland told the Racing Post. "There was a fifth gear there that I didn't have to use."

Pearl Of Love, a bay son of Peintre Celebre, won the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Saturday, he broke on top and quickened two furlongs from home to leave a pair of Aidan O'Brien-trained opponents, Tumblebrutus and The Mighty Tiger, in his wake. Tumblebrutus finished a neck in front of The Mighty Tiger.

The dominating victory over a pair of Ballydoyle runners sets up a potentially considerable duo between Johnston's colt and O'Brien's group stakes-winning One Cool Cat in the Dunnes Stores National Stakes at the Curragh on Sept. 14.

Wathab was fourth of the eight entered, three-quarters of a length behind The Mighty Tiger, who was ridden by Mick Kinane.

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