Aidan O'Brien may be forced to retire ‘superstar' millionaire horse as he's hit by crushing triple whammy of injuries
QUEEN VIC Aidan O'Brien may be forced to retire 'superstar' millionaire horse as he's hit by crushing triple whammy of injuries
A 'SUPERSTAR' Aidan O'Brien horse may have run her final race - as the iconic trainer handles a crushing triple whammy of injuries.
Lake Victoria, who has won more than £1million, has lost just once in her short career, when sixth in the 1,000 Guineas last May.
1
Awesome Aidan O'Brien filly Lake Victoria may be forced to retire after picking up an injury
Credit: Getty
She roared back to life with a simple victory in the Irish 1,000 later that month but hasn't been seen since.
O'Brien said in an interview with Sun Racing's Matt Chapman on ITV that she could be 'retired altogether'.
That cruel blow comes at the same time huge doubts have surfaced over Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin.
O'Brien has never hid his admiration for his Marble Hill Stakes winner Albert Einstein, saying he is 'as fast a horse as we have ever seen'.
But the two-year-old colt was forced to miss Royal Ascot when favourite for the Coventry.
Charles Darwin kept the Ballydoyle flag flying with victory in the Norfolk and is currently 9-4 favourite for the Nunthorpe at York's Ebor Festival next month.
But O'Brien said he too recently suffered a setback and may not be seen again until next season.
O'Brien said: "Lake Victoria is not back in exercise. She's doing well physically but she's not back in work yet.
"She might be left alone until next year or retired altogether.
"Those are the decisions that will be made as the weeks go by.
"Albert Einstein, we probably won't see again this year.
"Because he was so special - from the time we first started working him he was always head and shoulders above everything else.
"Everyone was aware of that and I know the way the lads think, usually, they won't want to take any chances whatsoever with him."
While in a separate interview with Racing TV, O'Brien said of Charles Darwin: "He has to come back. He had a little setback as well.
"We've had to ease off after hurting his foot.
"He's a big horse and those type of horses, after having two or three runs, they're educated for next year.
"If you come back and run them, fine, but if you don't, after those two or three runs, it's no problem really."
O'Brien still has a squad of monsters to unleash over the coming weeks.
Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel is all set for a blockbuster rematch with Calandagan in Saturday's King George at Ascot.
Illinois is being prepared for next week's Goodwood Cup - where he could be joined by awesome Bahrain Trophy winner Scandinavia.
Henri Matisse is set to take on Field Of Gold in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
Whirl will clash with See The Fire in the Nassau at the same festival.
While, looking ahead to York next month, breathtaking Coral-Eclipse winner Delacroix is set for round two with Ombudsman in the Juddmonte.
FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chases their losses
Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
19 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Celtic transfer latest as Brendan Rodgers calls for board ambition, new striker necessity and interest in Maeda grows
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IF there wasn't a sense of restlessness amongst Celtic fans in this transfer window before Thursday's heavy defeat to Ajax, then there definitely is now. And seemingly, it's not just the supporters who are beginning to feel anxious with a huge Champions League qualifier looming, it's now manager Brendan Rodgers too. 6 Maeda competes for the ball in friendly with Ajax Credit: Getty 6 Celtic captain Callum McGregor Credit: Getty 6 Ajax put five past Kasper Schmeichel Credit: Alamy His comments after the Dutch humbling in Lake Como were telling in his desire to get more quality players into the team. Rodgers said: "It depends what your ambition is. 'If your ambition is to really progress and push forward, then we need to improve the squad." Yes, it's only the Como Cup, but after the departure of almost a dozen players and prized asset Nicolas Kuhn among them, there's a feeling amongst some Celtic fans that the board are gambling with their Champions League fortunes if they don't strengthen soon. In the latest Go Ballistic Celtic Transfer Special, we dissect those comments and the message to the board Rodgers' sent, with SunSport's Craig Turnbull and David Friel. We also caught up with chief football writer Robert Grieve who is out in Lake Como following the Hoops in their pre-season warm-up games. And we started off by getting his reaction to Rodgers' comments about winger Yang after the game. 6 Yang takes the plaudits for his goal against Ajax Credit: Getty The message to the board RG: I was actually really interested in the comments that Brendan Rodgers made on Thursday about Yang. Yang started the game and did okay. We asked about him post match after there was a story circulating on social media, linking Yang with Norwich. There was a fake picture doing the rounds with Yang in a Norwich jersey. Shock scenes as Celtic and Ajax fans clash during Como Cup friendly tournament in Italy There is interest in Yang from Norwich and other clubs, but I found it very interesting that Brendan Rodgers was talking about Yang being a vital squad player as things stand. For me, it was almost a message he was sending out saying listen, 'if I don't get another winger in here, Yang is the guy who plays or who is going to get a lot of minutes'. Champions League gamble DF: If you look at the options on the wing compared to Jota (won't return until after the new year) and Kuhn, Celtic are weaker. I think everyone would admit that. It would be a huge gamble for Celtic to go into these play-offs with no reinforcements in that area. I would be amazed if that happened but as Brendan Rodgers said you need to show ambition. There's probably a view that Celtic overspent last summer right at the end, but they did get the deals done. Celtic will know they need to reinforce in that area, there has to be at least one winger that comes in before that play-off, potentially even two, because i just feel it's going to be a really tricky play-off. 6 Is the jury still out on Celtic striker Adam Idah? Credit: Alamy Idah isn't the man to lead Celtic next season RG: There still has to be some serious business done by Celtic. They absolutely need a new striker. I think that is key for them right now. That has to be key for Brendan Rodgers. I've watched the games in Portugal, the Newcastle game and in Lake Como and for all Adam Idah is a hard-working big player, has got a physicality and a presence that some other players don't have, for me, he's not going to be the player that starts the majority of games for Celtic next season, despite 20 goals last year. Celtic are going to be signing a striker who comes in and is going to be the main man and it remains to be seen who that is going to be. 6 A number of clubs are looking at Maeda Credit: Getty Interest in Maeda RG: Daizen Maeda was impressive and lively especially first half against Ajax. I've still got an inkling that he is maybe what some clubs are looking at and it will be very interesting to see how that develops over the coming weeks. I think Celtic fans will be outraged at the idea of selling Maeda when arguably they are weaker now than they were at the end of last season. There are clubs looking at Maeda. The key will be what happens in that Champions League play-off and what Celtic do between now and then. It wouldn't surprise me if Celtic try and get a couple of wingers in with the idea that there will be interest in Maeda. Celtic transfer business this summer Celtic transfer business IN: LB: Kieran Tierney (Arsenal), GK: Ross Doohan (Aberdeen), AMC: Benjamin Nygren (Nordsjaelland), ST: Callum Osmand (Fulham), CB: Hayato Inamura (Albirex Niigata), ST: Shin Yamada (Kawasaki Frontale) OUT: GK Scott Bain (Falkirk), LB: Greg Taylor (PAOK), Matthew Anderson (Kortjik), CB: Gustaf Lagerbielke (Braga), AMR: Nicolas Kuhn (Como), Lenny Agbaire (Rotherham), ST: Daniel Cummings (West Ham), Kwon (Nantes) Loans: CB: Maik Nawrocki (Hannover), AMR: Luis Palma (Lech Poznan), Adam Montgomery (Livingston) Celtic in limbo DF: Celtic have targets who right now might not want to fully commit until they know Celtic are 100 per cent in the Champions League. And that leads to a stand-off position because you might be able to get number two or number three on your list, who're happy to come just now if it means Celtic are Champions League or Europa League, but not your top targets. What are you better doing, taking the lesser player or gambling? It's a tricky situation. I have sympathy for any club in the situation where you might have to wait a little bit of time for your top targets but you have this huge tie coming up. But Celtic fans won't want to hear that excuse they'll be saying get the deal done if it means paying that player - who can get you to the Champions League - that little bit extra. I don't think it's as simple as that. I don't think there's an unwillingness from Celtic to spend big money, we saw that last summer with Celtic saying they broke their transfer record twice. But I think the fear is among Celtic fans - and maybe even Brendan Rodgers - is that it comes too late for the Champions League, which is such a huge priority for Celtic. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Leader Live
33 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Ribot, Grundy, Shergar, Enable – the King George has them all
RIBOT (1956) Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest Flat racers of the post-war era, the unbeaten Italian champion made his one and only trip to Britain for the 1956 King George. The dual Arc winner used the Gran Premio di Milano as his prep race for the King George, which was set to be his hardest race to date. The going was sticky, and the 2-5 favourite looked uneasy at one stage, with jockey Enrico Camici urging him to go with the leaders. The pacemaker, Todrai, did his job and led Ribot into the straight but it was only in the last furlong that the champion showed his real worth. Some argued that the win was unimpressive; the horse's record, though, speaks for itself: 16 runs, 16 wins. NIJINSKY (1970) Vincent O'Brien's Triple Crown winner was another easy winner of this great race. The son of Northern Dancer had already captured the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the Irish Derby, and started at odds of 40-85 at Ascot. Nijinsky was the only three-year-old in a field of six that included the previous year's Derby winner, Blakeney, and Coronation Cup winner Caliban. Caliban provided the early pace, but it was soon apparent that Nijinsky was in a different league. He cruised past his rivals on the bridle and left Blakeney for dead. Lester Piggott could not have had an easier winner. MILL REEF (1971) Trained by Ian Balding, Mill Reef won six Group Ones in a row. That sequence began with the Derby, and he lined up for the King George as the 8-13 favourite, having taken the Eclipse in the interim. Ridden by Geoff Lewis, he was nicely settled in third as they entered the straight. He pulled to the front a furlong from home and ran away to win by six lengths. He sealed a brilliant year by routing a top-class Arc field by three lengths. He won the Prix Ganay and Coronation Cup as a four-year-old, but sadly injury curtailed his career soon afterwards and the great rematch with Brigadier Gerard never happened. GRUNDY (1975) To many, this really was 'the race of the century'. The clash of the generations pitted the Derby winner, Grundy, against Bustino, winner of the 1974 St Leger. Two pacemakers were thrown in by Bustino's trainer, Dick Hern, and they set up the race nicely for an epic duel in the final half-mile. Bustino was clear by three into the home straight, but Grundy was gradually eating into his lead. They fought all the way to the line and Grundy looked beaten at one stage. Yet he dug deep and just prevailed in a never-to-be forgotten finish. We must not forget also that the brilliant dual-winner Dahlia was a distant third. Such was the courage both horses had to show that not only did the race-record time stand until Harbinger in 2010, but neither managed to win again. SHERGAR (1981) Shergar is famous for being kidnapped and for winning the Derby by 10 lengths, and it is easy to forget that the legendary colt also won the Irish Derby and the King George in a memorable summer. He was a warm favourite to beat the older generation at Ascot. A surprisingly slow pace was set and initially the Aga Khan-owned colt was boxed in. But as the field straightened for home, Light Cavalry came off the rails and Walter Swinburn seized the opportunity to take the 2-5 favourite through the gap in style. The race was settled with two furlongs to run; he drew away to win decisively by four lengths from Madam Gay. PETOSKI (1985) The 1985 renewal was billed as the clash of the sexes between Henry Cecil's Oaks victor, Oh So Sharp, and Vincent O'Brien's Irish Derby winner, Law Society. However, it was Willie Carson on Petoski who caused the upset. In victory, he also brought an end to Oh So Sharp's unbeaten run, which also included the 1000 Guineas. Steve Cauthen blamed the very fast ground at Ascot and interference by Infantry two furlongs out for the great filly's defeat. But Carson rode a patient race on Petoski, switching the colt to the outside close to the finish to beat Cauthen's mount by a neck. DANCING BRAVE (1986) If the international classifications, which started in 1977, are anything to go by, then Dancing Brave is without doubt the best King George winner of the last four decades. Rated 141 at the time (somewhat controversially amended to 138 in 2013 but still the highest-rated King George winner), he possessed great speed, and a lightning turn of foot that left his rivals for dead. He started the King George as the 6-4 second-favourite, behind the 11-10 shot Shahrastani, who had beaten him in the Derby. With Pat Eddery on board, this time 'the Brave' took revenge, with his Epsom conqueror disappointing in fourth place. Dancing Brave went on to achieve further glory with a dazzling win in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the autumn. NASHWAN (1989) Nashwan was a truly exceptional three-year-old. Trained by Major Dick Hern, he remains the only horse to have won the 2000 Guineas, Derby, Eclipse and King George in one season. It was a slow gallop for the seven-runner field in the King George, which soon developed into a tactical affair as Willie Carson sat and waited on Nashwan. It was not until the last two furlongs that the race truly developed, with Nashwan the first to commit, and he was soon joined by the Derby third, Cacoethes. They were locked together inside the final furlong and in a pulsating finish Nashwan showed he had the courage to match his undoubted class as he got home in front. MONTJEU (2000) Michael Tabor's Montjeu was undoubtedly the easiest winner of the King George for many a year. The 1999 Arc de Triomphe winner only had six rivals to beat, as the Classic generation stayed away. In truth, it was a sub-standard renewal – but it was never meant to be a walkover. However, it felt like one. Sent off at 1-3 – the shortest-priced favourite since Nashwan – he had 11lb plus in hand on official figures. Michael Kinane sat patiently on the colt, and when asked to quicken two furlongs out, the horse cruised home stylishly. Kinane did not need to do much; the horse guided him home that day. HARBINGER (2010) Harbinger was an impressive winner of the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot but went to another level in the King George, where he produced a stunning performance to win by 11 lengths in a time bettering the one set by Grundy. Confront performed his duties as pacemaker for his stablemates Workforce and Harbinger and led until the home turn, at which point Epsom Derby hero Workforce and Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco tried to assert their authority. But they were merely sitting ducks for Olivier Peslier and Harbinger as they effortlessly took up the running inside the final two furlongs and rocketed clear. The handicapper raised him to from 123 to 135, making him the best in the world at the time but his career was cruelly cut short the following month when he shattered a cannon-bone in a routine spin on the gallops in Newmarket. In the wake of his retirement, Sir Michael Stoute was asked how much further Harbinger could have gone. 'Who knows?,' he wondered. 'If he had kept at that plateau, we'd have had a world champion.' ENABLE (2019) The only three-time winner of the race, Enable hacked up from Ulysses in 2017 and completed her hat-trick in a substandard three-runner heat in 2020, but her middle victory was the stuff of legend. Having already bagged the Eclipse on her return to action, Enable was sent off the 8-15 favourite to regain her Ascot crown with injury preventing a title defence in 2018. Crystal Ocean had finished runner-up to Poet's Word in her absence and the race was widely expected to boil down to a duel between the top older horses. Few could have expected such an epic finish though, as the pair went toe-to-toe for the best part of two furlongs, with Crystal Ocean finding generously when it looked as though Enable would go on. It was nip and tuck all the way, but Enable just poked her head in front on the line to triumph by a neck, with future Arc winner Waldgeist just under two lengths back in third, with a further seven lengths back to the next home in what was a race for the ages.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Kalpana seeking to join Juddmonte luminaries on King George roll of honour
Andrew Balding's charge rounded off her three-year-old campaign with Group One success over the course and distance on Champions Day and has not done much wrong in two starts since, finishing third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and then second in the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland. Back on home soil, Kalpana is the only filly in a field of five, with Oisin Murphy deputising in the saddle for the suspended Colin Keane. Kalpana (right) chases home Whirl in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA) Barry Mahon, racing manager for owner-breeders Juddmonte, said: 'We're all set for Saturday, I think we were hoping for a bit more rain than has actually fallen, but it is what it is and I'm sure it'll be nice ground on the day. 'It's a top-class renewal, as you would expect for such a good race, but we're looking forward to partaking in it.' Juddmonte's Bluestocking found only Goliath too strong in last year's King George before going on to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the colours of the late Khalid Abdullah, who also claimed Ascot's midsummer highlight with Dancing Brave and superstar mare Enable, the latter on three occasions. Both of those equine greats also landed Europe's premier middle-distance contest, Enable doing so in successive years in 2017 and 2018, and a potential trip to Paris in early October has already been pencilled in for Kalpana ahead of what connections admit is a stern test this weekend. 'Rebel's Romance is such a legend of a horse and Calandagan and Jan Brueghel are obviously very, very talented,' Mahon added. 'We think going back up to a mile and a half will suit our filly and Andrew said she worked well on Wednesday morning and he's very happy with her, so we're hopeful that her first two runs have set her up nicely for this.' The top two in the market are Jan Brueghel and Calandagan, who renew rivalry after finishing first and second in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in early June. While Calandagan has since broken his top-level duck in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Jan Brueghel has been kept fresh by Aidan O'Brien and is interestingly fitted with cheekpieces for the first time as he bids to provide his trainer with a fifth King George success. Jan Brueghel (right) denies Calandagan in the Coronation Cup at Epsom (Adam Davy/PA) O'Brien, who also saddles the rank outsider and probable pacemaker Continuous, said: 'Jan Brueghel is good, everything has gone well since the last day. 'It will be an interesting race and the ground looks like it's going to be nice. 'Continuous rolls along usually and he'll go forward, but if someone else wants to go on (and make the running), he'll be happy too.' Francis Henri-Graffard's Calandagan has already shown his liking for Ascot, dominating his rivals in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting last summer before finishing a close second to Anmaat in October's Champion Stakes. Calandagan ➡️ @Ascot ❓ He got his Group 1 on Sunday and he could return to the UK for the King George later this month! — British Champions Day (@Champions_Day) July 2, 2025 Buoyed by his long-awaited first Group One success on home soil four weeks ago, connections are excited to be heading back to Berkshire. Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: 'The horse is in very good form, he took his win at Saint-Cloud very well. I spoke with Mickael Barzalona who rode him in his last piece of work and he's very happy with him. 'It's a small field, but he has to take on Jan Brueghel again and obviously Rebel's Romance was impressive last time out. 'He doesn't have much ground to make up on Jan Brueghel and although they were calling the ground good to soft at Epsom, we felt it was riding softer that day. He handles softer ground so we can't use that as an excuse, but I just think maybe his acceleration is a a bit more decisive on firmer ground. 'When it becomes a heavy-duty slugging match I'm not sure that's really his game, but when he can use his acceleration on good, fast ground I think that's when he's at his best.' William Buick celebrates winning the Hardwicke Stakes aboard Rebel's Romance (David Davies/PA) The small but select field is completed by Rebel's Romance, who has won seven Group Ones on foreign soil and bids to break his top-level duck at home following his course-and-distance success in last month's Hardwicke Stakes. Speaking on the Godolphin website, trainer Charlie Appleby said: 'Rebel's Romance goes into this in great order. There was plenty of strength in depth in this contest 12 months ago, when he ran a good race (finished third), and it looks a similarly strong renewal this time around. 'He is taking on younger opposition again but, wherever he finishes, the others will know that they have had a race.'
