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Lake Victoria gives Ballydoyle a winning start to Irish Derby weekend

3 minute read

Ballydoyle is set to unleash a strong battalion of juveniles over the Irish Derby meeting at the Curragh and the weekend started well with victory in Friday’s Kildare House Hotel Irish EBF Fillies Maiden with Lake Victoria.

Curragh Racecourse.
Curragh Racecourse. Picture: Pat Healy Photography

The Coolmore breeding operation have been expanding their bloodlines by sending speedy mares to Frankel and the experiment has already borne fruit, with Bedtime Story – a first foal out of Group 1 winning sprinter Mecca's Angel – winning the Chesham Stakes in emphatic style at Royal Ascot.

Lake Victoria is another Frankel filly, bred along similar lines. Her dam Quiet Reflection was successful at the highest level as a sprinter, winning both the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup and the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup before retiring to stud. She has already produced two Black Type performers in Bluegrass and The Equator, and Lake Victoria looks set to be another.

"We're delighted with her. She was showing lovely work at home," said O'Brien.

"It was her first day out, first day at the track, so you'd have to be very happy with her. Ryan was very happy with her.

"She was green and Ryan said he didn't mean to send her on as early, but when she went there, she started pricking her ears and waiting. She was never away and hadn't been in front that much.

"He said he had to make her get down and do it but he said she still had her ears pricked going to the line, that's always a good sign.

"Obviously she'll go into one of the good fillies' races. She has loads of speed, they didn't go very fast but she still travelled very well and quickened very well.

"I think probably the Silver Flash or something like that. Obviously, depending on where some of the other fillies will go and we'll see what the lads want to do."


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