Covert Love© Photo Healy Racing
Hugo Palmer feels Covert Love is heading to France for the Prix de l'Opera in "exceptional order".
The Irish Oaks winner had her winning run halted in the Yorkshire Oaks last time out by Jim Bolger's Pleascach, but she lost nothing in defeat, being headed only in the last couple of strides.
Covert Love has made huge progress this season since winning a maiden at Chelmsford in May, and Palmer has repeatedly stated how he feels she will be even better next year.
First, though, the Newmarket handler has his sights set on another Group One with his Azamour filly, but he admits he was relishing the prospect of taking on Pleascach again and a part of him was slightly disappointed when she was not declared.
"It would have been very nice to have got our revenge on Pleascach but when I looked at the decs on Thursday, there were 13 very good fillies and now there are 12 very good fillies," said Palmer.
"It is still a very hot renewal, on ratings nearly all are rated 110 but I think we're the highest on 115.
"It's going to be a very tough race, we're stepping back down in distance to 10 furlongs and I just hope she has a safe journey over.
"She's in exceptional order, she's had a faultless preparation since York and I'm happy enough with the draw (five).
"We're hoping for another big run, she's certainly going there well enough to do herself justice. One way of looking at going back to 10 furlongs is she's unbeaten over the trip!"
Freddy Head's We Are won the race 12 months ago and while she runs again, she has not been in the same sort of form this season and he may have a better chance with the three-year-old Queen's Jewel.
She was hugely impressive earlier in the season in winning the Prix Saint-Alary but she has not been seen since disappointing in the Prix de Diane.
Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for owners the Wertheimer Brothers, said: "Queen's Jewel had time off with a problem after the French Oaks, but Freddy says she is back to her best.
"She knows the track and knows the distance. She has done very well at home and we think she will go well in the Opera."
Winner of the Prix de Diane was John Gosden's Star Of Seville, who benefited from a great front-running ride from Frankie Dettori.
She has only run once since then, when well behind Legatissimo in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.
Hugo Lascelles, racing manager for Star Of Seville's owner Lady Bamford, said: "She's a French Oaks winner and she's in good form - she deserves to take her chance. We'll see how she goes."
Dettori, however, has discarded her in favour of stablemate Jazzi Top, who was in front of Star Of Seville at Goodwood and won the Prix de la Nonette last time out.
Another British challenger is Karl Burk'e Odeliz, who gained a much-deserved first Group One win in the Prix Jean Romanet after several good runs at the highest level.
