Lake Victoria expected to be sharper for tilt at classic glory at the Curragh
It's not often one classic serves as a 'prep' for another but it can pay off for Lake Victoria in Sunday's Tattersalls
Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh
.
Aidan O'Brien's filly is the clear top-rated on official figures among the dozen lining up for the €500,000 highlight on the back of her superb two-year-old career.
A triple-Group One winner in three different countries, Lake Victoria was Europe's champion juvenile filly in advance of Godolphin's star Desert Flower.
In one way, the eagerly anticipated clash of the pair took place in the Newmarket 1000 Guineas earlier this month, and in another way, it didn't.
READ MORE
If pre-race confidence in Desert Flower was infectious, Aidan O'Brien let no one in doubt that it had been a rush to get Lake Victoria to Newmarket and that if she was ready for a race, it was unlikely to be her best race.
Halfway in the Guineas, it briefly didn't look even like reaching that as Ryan Moore started to get serious with her. A couple of furlongs later, and it momentarily seemed an unlikely success might even be on the cards. Ultimately, Lake Victoria came up less than 2½ lengths short in a patchy performance that resonated of significant progress to come.
That will be put to the test in her home Guineas and Moore is anticipating a better display despite the second and third at Newmarket, Ollie Sangster's pair Flight and Simmering, being in the lineuline-uphat run should bring her on, and she'll be much fitter this time. I certainly haven't lost any faith in her, and I expect her to show her true colours on Sunday,' he told World Pool, the global co-mingling operation that will have betting on both of Sunday's Group One contests.
Lake Victoria lost her unbeaten record at Newmarket, but her main threat could come from Dermot Weld's Swelter, who brings a spotless two from two into the classic run on her doorstep.
An anticipated ease in ground conditions will help the strapping Kingman filly, who was too strong for Exactly on her own Trial success at Leopardstown.
Los Angeles is already a Curragh classic winner, having emerged on top in last year's Derby. Now he tries his luck at the top level over 10 furlongs in a Tattersalls Gold Cup, seemingly packed with quality.
The English filly Kalpana is already favourite for the Arc in October, but could hardly be said to have got an easy first start to her campaign.
Also in the mix is English Champion Stakes winner Anmaat, while last year's winner White Birch will try to secure a popular follow-up for Cork trainer John Murphy. He was a neck off Los Angeles in the Mooresbridge on his comeback.
On what could turn out to be a notable day for Moore, Porta Fortuna may not need to be at her superb best to make a successful return to action in Group Two company. The impressive Leopardstown scorer Vera's Secret looks her danger.
Albert Einstein earned some notable reviews on his career debut at Naas and will be expected to follow up in the Marble Hill.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Star singer to perform at Gaelic Grounds as warm-up for mouth-watering Munster final between Cork & Limerick
GAVIN James will set the scene for Saturday's Munster final spectacular by playing a 40-minute warm-up set. There is the distinct possibility that Limerick are "in the heads" of their Cork foes considering they 3 Once again the TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick will play host to the rivals 3 Gavin James is set to serve as the warm-up act before hurling takes centre stage And ahead of Saturday's 6pm throw-in Limerick GAA has announced that Dublin singer-songwriter James will get the occasion going from 4.35pm. "Gates will open on Saturday June 7 at 4pm. "Honing his performing and song writing gifts as a busker and pub performer in Dublin, to sold out world tours, Gavin's come a long way. Read More On GAA "James has built a community of fans that have seen his music streamed three billion times across the globe and earn diamond and platinum records in multiple countries. "He has also sold more than 250,000 tickets (and counting) worldwide with a live show that is as transporting as it is uplifting. "This June, James returns with a new single 'Cherry Cola', a precursor to a new album of original material that he's recording in a studio on a mountain outside his home city of Dublin." Earlier this week, Tipperary great Patrick 'Bonner' Maher Most read in GAA Hurling Speaking at the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Championship launch, he said: 'I think Cork should come back. They'll have a bit of a bite after what happened in the last game. 'I'm hoping for a classic Munster final, fire and brimstone, where two teams go hammer-and-tongs at each other. Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview - 'It's going to be a hard one to call. Both of them are going to go hard at each other and see where the pieces fall. 'Judging on the last day, you'd say Limerick are one or two points ahead. 'But I wouldn't write off Cork because those boys are well able to play.' Limerick, who have won five All-Irelands and six Munster titles since 2018, are often placed in opposition to Brian Cody's four-in-a-row Kilkenny crop in debates over the greatest hurling team of all time. 3 Maher at the 2025 Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championship launch Credit: Inpho Maher came up against John Kiely's Limerick on several occasions in the latter half of his career, having also been part of the Tipp side who scuppered the Cats' quest for a fifth consecutive Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2010. But the three-time All-Ireland winner said: 'It's very hard to compare a team in one period to a team in the current period. 'There are so many variables, it's hard to say if they're as good or better than that Kilkenny team. 'I was lucky enough, or unlucky enough, to play against both. For their time and their moment playing, they're the best team that's there at that moment. 'I wouldn't compare against the Kilkenny team because they were a different animal and that was in their time. They're two serious outfits.'
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Brendan Cummins: Cork must restructure to avoid dentist chair pain
Tipperary legend Brendan Cummins believes Cork must adopt a more pragmatic approach if they are to dramatically turn the tables on Limerick and win a first Munster title since 2018 this Saturday. In their round-robin encounter last month, the Treaty County ruthlessly put 3-26 on the Rebels as they continually exploited the space left by Cork's aggressive attacking approach – especially on puck-outs. Cummins, who guided Tipperary to All-Ireland Under-20 glory last Saturday, believes Pat Ryan has to adapt if they are to reverse their fortunes. "Has there been much talk in Cork about the structure of the game against Limerick," Cummins asked on the RTÉ GAA podcast. "(Cork) played with all their forwards up the pitch, the half-forward line never came back to help their own half-back line which meant players were doubled-up on in every position around the middle third of the pitch. "Were there any murmurings that 'we can't go with this project of man-to-man all over the pitch like Clare did last year and got success. Maybe we need to tweak.'" One of the big issues for Cork against Limerick in the round-robin game, as examined by RTÉ GAA analyst Shane McGrath this week, was Darragh Fitzgibbon's inability to get to terms with the influence of Kyle Hayes. "Will O'Donoghue will mark Darragh Fitzgibbon and that will allow Kyle Hayes to come back a bit," Cummins offered. "That was the problem the last day that Darragh Fitzgibbon had, he was stuck between two big trees. Normally he comes out the pitch and he floats around but to be fair to Limerick, the Limerick midfielder picks up the opposition 11; you can't really see that in the general play and that's why Will O'Donoghue is so good. "Darragh Fitzgibbon came back out the pitch and everywhere he went he was tracked by a midfielder so there was none of these loose ball that we saw Tony Kelly get on for years at 11 or Cian Lynch. "The reason Lynch is so good is because he can stand in between that channel at the 65, you can hit it at him through the letterbox and he makes it stick whereas Fitzgibbon's not that kind of hurler. "Cork had no anchor there to play it through." Cummins also feels that the dramatic peak and trough disposition of the Rebel fans is also becoming a factor with the atmosphere for their round 5 win over Waterford noticeably subdued for such an important fixture in their season. "Below in Páirc Uí Chaoimh the last day, the supporters were fair jumpy and anxious against Waterford, it was like sitting there in the dentist chair waiting to know when the drill was going to go off and when the pain was coming. "I said before about the supporters, you're on an unbelievable high, you're going to win the All-Ireland, 'no we're not', this kind of thing."
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Troy Parrott a doubt for Ireland's friendly with Senegal
Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson is confident that Troy Parrott can shake off a bug and be available for selection for Friday night's friendly international against Senegal at the Aviva Stadium (7.45pm). Parrott was confined to his room in the Castleknock hotel earlier in the week with a bug, but Hallgrímsson expects the 23-year-old to train on Thursday. 'Troy was sick yesterday and he stayed in his room but he was feeling much better this morning,' said Hallgrímsson. 'He is the only concern we have. Otherwise everybody is fit, ready and looking forward to Senegal. 'Troy will train today and we will see how he reacts to the session before selecting the team.' READ MORE If Parrott does not recover, Evan Ferguson or Adam Idah will lead the line against the 19th ranked country in the world. Ireland are currently placed 60th on the Fifa list. Brentford's new signing Caoimhín Kelleher is expected to start in goal behind Matt Doherty, Nathan Collins, Dara O'Shea and Robbie Brady, who was named the FAI men's international player of the season. 'It shows how s**t youse have all been if I'm winning this,' Brady jokingly told his team-mates after assistant coach John O'Shea presented him with the award on Wednesday. Everton's Jake O'Brien and Celtic's Liam Scales are alternative options in defence against Senegal and when Ireland travel to Luxembourg next Tuesday. Will Smallbone is expected to return to the line-up, as an attacking midfielder, potentially ahead of Jason Knight and Jack Taylor with the Spanish-born, Cameroonian qualified John Joe Patrick Finn in line to make his debut for Ireland. 'It is important that we have more than 11 players ready to play and knowing everything about how we want to play,' said Hallgrímsson. 'We wanted to have a camp in May to add knowledge to more players, see new faces and rock the boat. 'We've been more or less picking a similar squad so when we lost out on the May camp we still opened spots for new players to come in.'
