True Love wins 1,000 Guineas, O'Brien's 8th

True Love delivered a commanding performance to win the Betfred 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday, handing trainer Aidan O'Brien his eighth success in the fillies' Classic and upstaging her stablemate Precise, the 9-5 favorite.

Ridden by Wayne Lordan, the 5-1 shot traveled strongly in the stands' side group during the one-mile contest over 19 runners. She asserted with two furlongs remaining, drifting right late but quickening on the rising ground to prevail by one and three-quarter lengths over 16-1 Evolutionist. Venetian Lace finished third, a half-length further back, while Precise faded to seventh on the far side under Ryan Moore.

O'Brien had entered doubts about True Love's stamina, given her sprinting background. The filly had won the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket as a juvenile and the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot over five. A recent victory over seven furlongs at Leopardstown on soft ground three weeks prior provided reassurance. "You couldn't be sure she was going to get a mile, she's a Queen Mary winner and it's very unusual for a Queen Mary winner to get a mile," O'Brien said. "Wayne gave her a beautiful ride."