Lake Victoria Takes Guineas Crown In Group 1 Ballydoyle Double

Lake Victoria (3f Frankel – Quiet Reflection, by Showcasing) was back to her brilliant best on Sunday, as she gained her fourth Group 1 win in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

Sixth at Newmarket on her seasonal return, Aidan O’Brien’s top-class two-year-old was sent off favourite at the Curragh, where she tracked the leaders under Ryan Moore. Quickening from three furlongs out, she began to run on strongly a furlong later and led entering the final furlong. Soon in command, she quickened clear to score by two and a quarter lengths, with another length and three quarters back to Cercene (Australia) in third.

"She's an exceptional filly,” Moore commented. “She had an unbelievable two-year-old campaign and Newmarket just wasn't her. Today we haven't gone mad, we've gone quite steady and I've had to wait behind horses and they couldn't really bring me into the race.

“She showed a really good turn of foot. When I got out and got upsides at the furlong mark she really quickened. She done everything beautifully today and she's really exciting.”

O’Brien added: “Everyone around her has done an incredible job. She was only ready to go to Newmarket, so we thought she ran an incredible race in the circumstances there. Ryan looked after her and everything went well after Newmarket, her work was out of this world.

“She has all the speed in the world, she travels and does everything. Ryan gave her an incredible ride. When he asked her to quicken the last furlong she really did for him. We couldn't be happier with her.”