Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old fillies to follow in 2025

The master of Ballydoyle is a dominant force in the Classics on both sides of the Irish Sea. As such, he always has a strong team of three-year-olds to go to war with. He’s been cleaning up in the Derby and Oaks trials, which means he will have a strong hand to play.

There are plenty of good races to be won outside of that, however, so we’re going to take a look at five promising three-year-old fillies worth adding to your notebooks. Some are well on their way to the top already, while a couple of others have the potential to rise up the ladder.

5. Butterfly Wings

An impeccably-bred filly, who is out of a half-sister to the great Giant’s Causeway and You’resothrilling, the dam of Gleaneagles and Marvellous. Sire Justify is also producing some excellent European middle-distance performers, including City Of Troy.

She looked in need of the experience on both of her starts at two and clearly needed the run on her seasonal debut at Leopardstown. Obliging in the style of a very smart filly when last seen, it won’t be long before she’s competing in better races and you'd imagine she’ll be winning her fair share.

4. Exactly

The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas) turned into a messy and chaotic affair and Exactly was arguably the most unfortunate runner, eventually finishing fourth beaten a length and a quarter. The daughter of Frankel was squeezed out and Ryan Moore had to stop riding.

It’s therefore fair to say that she was entitled to finish closer and after keeping on nicely, perhaps a step up in trip is in order. She certainly wouldn’t look out of place in the Prix de Diane or perhaps the Pretty Polly Stakes, if connections wanted to stay at home.

3. Minnie Hauk

Another daughter of Frankel, she has always been highly regarded by connections and she won a Leopardstown maiden over a mile in October on just her second start. Middle distances were always likely to bring out the best in her and so it proved at Chester on her seasonal debut.

She lined up in the Cheshire Oaks and was well backed on the day, going off the 13/8 favourite. Ryan Moore kept things simple and she broke quickly to get across, as stall six was a less than ideal draw. Minnie Hauk saw the trip out very well and she’ll improve plenty for that run too.

2. Giselle

Big things were expected of Giselle as a juvenile but she didn’t quite deliver to the standard that connections anticipated. She won a maiden at the Curragh in October then finished third behind stablemate Whirl in a Group 1 over a mile a couple of weeks later.

Clearly the winter break did her some good as she returned in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, where she faced two rivals and absolutely bolted up. You can argue about the strength of the form but she was far too keen in the early stages and still won by nine lengths, so the Oaks has to be on the cards now.

1. Lake Victoria

This filly was awesome as a two-year-old, winning all five starts over trips ranging from 6f to a mile with three of those coming at the top level. She won the Moyglare Stud, Cheveley Park and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf towards the end of the season.

Lake Victoria looked far from ready when finishing sixth in the 1,000 Guineas and will come on loads for that. Wherever she ends up next, victory could well be on the cards. Connections have the option of stepping her up in trip or sticking to a mile, as this talented and resilient three-year-old has it all.