Lake Victoria Headlines Irish One Thousand Guineas
Ballydoyle has sent out 10 winners of the Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1), a sparkling roll of honor which includes Halfway To Heaven, Winter , and Hermosa , but none had as stellar a juvenile campaign as Lake Victoria , who lines up against 11 rivals at the Curragh May 25.
The Frankel filly proved a sensation last year, reeling off three group 1s in six weeks in the autumn, the first coming over seven furlongs in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) before she dropped to six furlongs and routed the field in the Cheveley Park Stakes (G1).
She then capped a phenomenal season with an electric performance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) over a mile, despite enduring a rough trip.
However, Aidan O’Brien was keen to stress early in the season that given her busy juvenile season when unbeaten in five starts, she was afforded a longer break than usual and would take time to come to hand.
She came to hand sufficiently to line up in the One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket Racecourse, but O’Brien was typically transparent in the build-up, saying several times she would come on plenty for the effort.
With that information to hand and depending on your persuasion, being beaten 2 1/2 lengths in sixth could be looked on favorably, and she sets an enormous standard on her juvenile form.
O’Brien said: “Lake Victoria is well in herself. She was just ready to start off at Newmarket and we’d have run her the following day at the Curragh had they not switched the race (Athasi) from seven furlongs to a mile. She seems to have come forward nicely at home since Newmarket, as we thought she would. There should be plenty of improvement to come.”
The stable’s apparent second string January also showed plenty as a 2-year-old, winning twice in six starts. The Kingman filly darted four lengths clear in listed company at Tipperary in August before chasing home this year’s One Thousand Guineas winner Desert Flower in the May Hill Stakes.
She couldn’t close the gap in the Fillies’ Mile (G1) on her last start, but still ran with plenty of credit to finish second and could easily figure if she can put her best foot forward after an absence.
“January is just ready to start off and there will be massive improvement to come from her after this run,” said O’Brien.
Weld Bids for Magnificent Seven
It’s been 43 years since Prince’s Polly landed the first of Dermot Weld’s six Irish One Thousand Guineas, and the master of Rosewell is still producing top-class fillies every year. The Juddmonte-owned Swelter is his latest project.
She produced a high-class debut at Leopardstown on her only start last year and coped with the step up to group 3 company in splendid fashion in March when powering home to beat the talented filly Exactly , who finished fourth in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, G1) on her next start.
Weld and Chris Hayes have combined for two of the last three winners of this race with Homeless Songs putting in a breathtaking performance in 2022 before Tahiyra followed up 12 months later.
Weld said: “I’m satisfied with Swelter. She’s in good form and is a very nice filly. It was a good performance at Leopardstown and I was very happy with the way she did things there on only her second start. It’s a competitive Guineas, it looks to be a very good race. She’ll appreciate any rain.”
