PLANS to send Mossman three-year-old Love Conquers All to Brisbane this winter are back on the agenda after his dazzling 5 1/2-lens win at Randwick on Saturday.
Despite tackling older horses, and the unknown aspect of a heavy 9 track, Love Conquers All sailed away from his rivals to post his most emphatic win yet.
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes revealed that plans to set Love Conquers All for the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap next month were derailed when the colt came down with a virus this month.
”We were getting him ready to race but one morning we found he had an elevated temperature,” Hawkes said.
”It was only a 24-hour thing but it was enough to put him behind in his preparation. The Stradbroke is probably out of the question now — we might look at the June Stakes back here at Randwick in two weeks.
”We know he is a very good horse but he’s only lightly raced and still six months away from being at his peak.
”He might have one run in Brisbane at the back end of the winter carnival and then we’ll turn him out for the spring.”
Love Conquers All was having only his seventh start yesterday, recording his fourth win. As impressive as his record reads, it could have been even better, according to Hawkes.
”He was stiff not to win the Coolmore Stakes last spring,” he said. ”And he was stiff not to win the Magic Millions in January.
”But they don’t pay on ‘should haves’. Hopefully he will get his turn to win a good race.”
Hawkes said Love Conquers All is not purely a sprinter and believes in time he will run a strong 1600m.
”We have to keep the win in perspective as it was a wet track today but Love Conquers All could not have been more impressive,” he said. ”He’s an exciting prospect.”
