Lake Victoria ready to bounce back in Irish 1000 Guineas Aidan O’Brien’s battalion has already taken full force as the flat season gathers momentum each week. While many will look ahead to the Epsom Derby meeting and Royal Ascot in June, the first of the Irish classics takes place this weekend and O’Brien’s Lake Victoria will hope to bounce back in the 1000 Guineas, following her underwhelming performance in the English renewal of the race. Betfair Betting Offer If you already have a Betfair account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses The Perfect Juvenile Campaig The Frankel filly demonstrated the might of Coolemore as a juvenile, kicking off her life on the track with a victory on debut at the Curragh in a maiden against the now well-regarded Red Letter. She would later follow up this performance with a comfortable Group 3 win in the Sweet Solera at Newmarket, and it wasn’t long before she was able to claim her first Group 1 victory. She was sent off as an 11/2 shot and seemingly the second string horse in the Moyglare Stakes and won well, cementing herself as O’Brien’s top two-year-old filly. Following her impressive performance in the Moyglare, she demonstrated her versatility once more, by stepping down to six furlongs for the first time and winning the Chievley Park at Newmarket on soft ground. Another Group 1 to add to her CV. Over at Del Mar With her work this side of the Atlantic complete, Ballydole set out to ask her one more question, and sent her over to Del Mar for the Juvenile Fillies Turf race at the Breeders Cup. Following her staggering performances in the UK and Ireland, she was understandably sent off as an odds on shot. However, things did not start perfectly as she was hampered early on and lost her position, but thanks to a combination of top jockey Ryan Moore and the class Lake Victoria possesses, she was able to claim victory. It was by far her best performance from a visual standpoint, and she signed off her two-year-old campaign having won Group 1 contests over six furlongs, seven furlongs and a mile - all in the space of a six-week period. Life as a three-year-old It looked at one point like the Frankel filly may have struggled to be race fit in time for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, after O’Brien confirmed she had a longer break than her stable mates following her hectic two-year-old campaign. However, she made the first classic of the season for the fillies and put her unbeaten title on the line, but it wasn’t meant to be. She ran that day at Newmarket like she needed the run and she should be set up nicely to justify favouritism this weekend in the Irish 1000 Guineas. Despite holding an entry in the Oaks at Epsom, it is expected that she will bypass that event and head for the Coronation at Ascot before potentially targeting the Irish Oaks at the Curragh in July.
