Latest news with #EnglishGuineas
Irish Examiner
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Lake Victoria bounces back to land 1,000 Guineas spoils at the Curragh
Aidan O'Brien's insistence that the Newmarket 1000 Guineas would come too soon for Lake Victoria was proven in the extreme when the filly ran out a tremendously impressive winner of the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sunday afternoon at the Curragh. Ryan Moore, who was bidding for a fourth winner of the afternoon, had his mount in the box seat from an early stage as California Dreamer set the fractions. If there was one moment of anxiety for connections, it was as Moore asked his mount to move past Duty First, who kept Lake Victoria in for just a second. Once in the clear, Moore engaged that drive position which inevitably results in winners, and she responded to it by charging past California Dreamer and on to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory. The long-time leader held on to second place quite comfortably, with Cercene running a huge race to get up late for third place for trainer Joe Murphy. 'She was very good today,' said Moore of the filly who was sixth in the English Guineas. 'She wasn't quite there when she went well at Newmarket, but she's a lot better than them. She quickened up very well — she's a very smart filly. She's exciting, she does everything beautifully. Her record last year was very good, and I'm glad she was able to get back on track. 'She's very good and she'll be very hard for the fillies to handle. We'll see what she does the next day, but we haven't got to the bottom of her, so hopefully she can step up again.' O'Brien, for whom she was a third winner of the day and sixth of the three-day meeting, was over the moon. 'She went to Newmarket only getting ready for a racecourse gallop, and Ryan looked after her. She came out of it lovely. Everything went well — it doesn't always, from run to run — but we knew if everything was going to go well, she was going to make massive leaps, and that's what she did. 'She's one of those special ones. She won a Group 1 over six, seven and a mile as a two-year-old, and she travelled the world. She's very unique. The plan was to come here and then go to the Coronation.' The day's other Group 1 was the Tattersalls Gold Cup, and O'Brien and Moore also came out on top, though this one was far more competitive at the finish. With the missed break of the pacemaker, the wayward tendencies of another, the lack of room for a couple, and the general rough and tumble, a weighty tome could emerge from a brilliant renewal of the race. What did arise but was not news to anyone with an iota of knowledge of the sport was that Los Angeles is teak-tough and borderline impossible to beat when a race boils down to a one-on-one battle. And while connections of White Birch may rue the luckless run of their horse, who won this in 2024, and those of Kalpana may curse her luck, some of which was of her own making, a doughty winner was called for and Los Angeles responded. In a pulsating finish, he had a worthy opponent in last season's British Champion Stakes winner Anmaat, but once again he managed to dig in deep and this time it earned him a third Group 1. 'The big fella — Los Angeles — I thought that was the best he's ever been,' said Moore. 'I thought it was a proper horse race. The second horse put it up to him, and Kalpana and White Birch were right there, so I think it was a very solid race. People say he's tough and he's hardy, but he's pretty good as well.' In his future, there could be the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, the King George, an Arc Trial and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, should all go well. The Moore-O'Brien team also took the Group 3 GAIN Marble Hill Stakes with the physically imposing Albert Einstein. All did not go to plan, and the 4-11 chance raced keenly, but he showed class in abundance to pick off Power Blue and Andab close home. 'We always thought he was very special,' admitted the trainer. 'He's probably as fast a horse as we've ever seen work. We thought, at home, that he would be fine with six, seven or a mile, and still could be, but Ryan said he's very quick. 'The plan was to come here and go to the Coventry. I think there's a lot to come from him. He's very exciting. From the first day he worked, we felt he was very different.'
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Sangster sets sights on taking top billing at the Curragh
Each defied large odds to run a huge race behind the Godolphin hotpot and unless the ground at the Curragh is drastically changed by late rain, they will cross paths again. CLASS 💫 Desert Flower sees her race out strongly to justify short odds in the 1000 Guineas. The boys in blue are on fire! 🟦 @Betfred | @WilliamBuickX | @godolphin — Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 4, 2025 'They're both travelling, Flight will run regardless and Simmering is due to run at the moment and will unless we get a lot of rain and the ground goes very soft,' said Sangster. 'They're both very well, they have taken the race at Newmarket well and we've been happy with them since. 'Simmering ran a great race in the Moyglare for second last year at the Curragh, and she ran a good race at Newmarket to pass some nice horses. 'For Flight, I think the galloping nature of the Curragh track will suit her and she has a nice draw, we'd be hopeful of a big race.' Aidan O'Brien's Lake Victoria failed to fire in the English Guineas when coming home sixth of 10, but connections had made it clear her preparation was not ideal and that she was expected to come on leaps and bounds for the run. The bay daughter of Frankel was unbeaten at two and already has three Group One titles to her name, including a defeat of Simmering in that Moyglare contest, so a return to form on the Curragh is justifiably expected, with the Ballydoyle maestro chasing an 11th success in the race. Lake Victoria beats Simmering in the Moyglare (Niall Carson/PA). O'Brien told Racing TV: 'She's a totally different filly than she was at Newmarket, she's doing everything really smooth and real easy. 'We thought she would and really she was only ready for a racecourse gallop going to Newmarket, we were wanting to take her to the Curragh here and then we said we'd leave her go, because we obviously didn't have anything in the Guineas at Newmarket. 'We let her run and she ran very well, considering everything, but she has made great improvement since then.' Dermot Weld, who claimed this prize in 2022 and 2023 to make it six wins overall, is represented by Swelter, a Juddmonte owned and bred daughter of Kingman who was last seen winning the Group Three Priory Belle Stakes at Leopardstown in March. That run maintained her unbeaten record and though she is only lightly campaigned so far, she is clearly highly regarded by connections. Swelter scoring at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA). 'The Priory Belle was a lovely run, she's a beautiful filly who has run twice and won twice,' said Juddmonte's Barry Mahon. 'She lacks a bit of experience but she's a filly we're very much looking forward to. 'She's a very exciting horse.' Archie Watson's Duty First finished ninth in the Guineas at Newmarket when struggling with the track, but prior to that she was the winner of Newbury's Fred Darling and her trainer is happy to disregard her Rowley Mile performance. He said: 'She didn't handle the track at Newmarket at all and stumbled badly on the undulations. 'Hopefully we can put a line through that run. I have been very happy with her at home since and the track at the Curragh should suit her much better.' Atsila winning the Athasi Stakes (Niall Carson/PA). Donnacha O'Brien has supplemented Atsila, who did not run at two but has done nothing wrong to win both her starts so far this term – including in the course-and-distance Athasi Stakes. The trainer said: 'Her form looks strong. To be fair to Barry (Fowler, owner), he is game for anything. 'It was my fault that I didn't have her in the race in the first place but he's more than happy to supplement and take a chance. 'I think she's entitled to be in the race.' Elsewhere in the contest, there is the Adrian Murray-trained duo of California Dreamer and Jaliyah, with Aidan O'Brien having a second runner in January and Paddy Twomey saddling City Of Memphis. Joseph Murphy's Cercene and Eoghan O'Neill's Tamam Desert complete the field.
Rhyl Journal
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Moore upbeat as Lake Victoria has second shot at Classic glory
Aidan O'Brien's daughter of Frankel rattled off five straight wins last season, including elite-level victories in the Moyglare Stud Stakes here, the Cheveley Park at Newmarket and Del Mar's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Following an interrupted preparation, she lost her unbeaten record when sixth in the English Guineas, but was only two and a half lengths adrift of Desert Flower. Ryan Moore will again be in the saddle and said in his World Pool blog: 'That 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. 'It's a high-quality race, with the second and third from the 1,000 Guineas lining up again, as well as three more unbeaten fillies, so it's competitive.' Ollie Sangster's Flight and Simmering were second and third respectively at Newmarket and reoppose, along with ninth-placed Duty First for Archie Watson. O'Brien also sends out seasonal debutant January, who was second to Desert Flower in in the May Hill at Doncaster and Newmarket's Fillies' Mile in the autumn. The Dermot Weld-trained Swelter steps up in class after comfortably making it two from two when upsetting Exactly in the Group Three Priory Belle at Leopardstown. Donnacha O'Brien's supplemented entry Atsila has a similar profile after following up a Bellewstown maiden win with success in the Athasi Stakes at the Curragh, while City Of Memphis made a victorious debut at Cork earlier this month for Paddy Twomey. Adrian Murray duo California Dreamer and Jaliyah, Cercene and Tamam Desert complete the line-up. Los Angeles and White Birch will renew rivalry in a mouthwatering renewal of the Tattersalls Gold Cup, just less than three weeks after a cracking course and distance encounter in the Mooresbridge Stakes. Last year's Irish Derby hero had a neck to spare in that tussle, but John Joseph Murphy's stable star White Birch was having his first outing since impressively seeing off Auguste Rodin in the 2024 renewal of this event. A strong British challenge is headed by Andrew Balding's Champions Fillies & Mares winner Kalpana and Anmaat, a surprise scorer in the Champion Stakes on the same Ascot card for Owen Burrows. Ghostwriter, who raced with credit in a series of Group One events last term and was most recently seen finishing fourth in the Dubai Turf, represents Clive Cox and Karl Burke's Royal Rhyme makes the journey from North Yorkshire. Multiple Group One winner Porta Fortuna will make her four-year-old debut in the Group Two Lanwades Stud Stakes and Coventry Stakes favourite Albert Einstein has his second start in the Group Three GAIN Marble Hill Stakes.
Leader Live
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Moore upbeat as Lake Victoria has second shot at Classic glory
Aidan O'Brien's daughter of Frankel rattled off five straight wins last season, including elite-level victories in the Moyglare Stud Stakes here, the Cheveley Park at Newmarket and Del Mar's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Following an interrupted preparation, she lost her unbeaten record when sixth in the English Guineas, but was only two and a half lengths adrift of Desert Flower. Ryan Moore will again be in the saddle and said in his World Pool blog: 'That 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. 'It's a high-quality race, with the second and third from the 1,000 Guineas lining up again, as well as three more unbeaten fillies, so it's competitive.' Ollie Sangster's Flight and Simmering were second and third respectively at Newmarket and reoppose, along with ninth-placed Duty First for Archie Watson. O'Brien also sends out seasonal debutant January, who was second to Desert Flower in in the May Hill at Doncaster and Newmarket's Fillies' Mile in the autumn. The Dermot Weld-trained Swelter steps up in class after comfortably making it two from two when upsetting Exactly in the Group Three Priory Belle at Leopardstown. Donnacha O'Brien's supplemented entry Atsila has a similar profile after following up a Bellewstown maiden win with success in the Athasi Stakes at the Curragh, while City Of Memphis made a victorious debut at Cork earlier this month for Paddy Twomey. Adrian Murray duo California Dreamer and Jaliyah, Cercene and Tamam Desert complete the line-up. Los Angeles and White Birch will renew rivalry in a mouthwatering renewal of the Tattersalls Gold Cup, just less than three weeks after a cracking course and distance encounter in the Mooresbridge Stakes. Last year's Irish Derby hero had a neck to spare in that tussle, but John Joseph Murphy's stable star White Birch was having his first outing since impressively seeing off Auguste Rodin in the 2024 renewal of this event. A strong British challenge is headed by Andrew Balding's Champions Fillies & Mares winner Kalpana and Anmaat, a surprise scorer in the Champion Stakes on the same Ascot card for Owen Burrows. Ghostwriter, who raced with credit in a series of Group One events last term and was most recently seen finishing fourth in the Dubai Turf, represents Clive Cox and Karl Burke's Royal Rhyme makes the journey from North Yorkshire. Multiple Group One winner Porta Fortuna will make her four-year-old debut in the Group Two Lanwades Stud Stakes and Coventry Stakes favourite Albert Einstein has his second start in the Group Three GAIN Marble Hill Stakes.
South Wales Guardian
23-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Moore upbeat as Lake Victoria has second shot at Classic glory
Aidan O'Brien's daughter of Frankel rattled off five straight wins last season, including elite-level victories in the Moyglare Stud Stakes here, the Cheveley Park at Newmarket and Del Mar's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Following an interrupted preparation, she lost her unbeaten record when sixth in the English Guineas, but was only two and a half lengths adrift of Desert Flower. Ryan Moore will again be in the saddle and said in his World Pool blog: 'That 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. 'It's a high-quality race, with the second and third from the 1,000 Guineas lining up again, as well as three more unbeaten fillies, so it's competitive.' Ollie Sangster's Flight and Simmering were second and third respectively at Newmarket and reoppose, along with ninth-placed Duty First for Archie Watson. O'Brien also sends out seasonal debutant January, who was second to Desert Flower in in the May Hill at Doncaster and Newmarket's Fillies' Mile in the autumn. The Dermot Weld-trained Swelter steps up in class after comfortably making it two from two when upsetting Exactly in the Group Three Priory Belle at Leopardstown. Donnacha O'Brien's supplemented entry Atsila has a similar profile after following up a Bellewstown maiden win with success in the Athasi Stakes at the Curragh, while City Of Memphis made a victorious debut at Cork earlier this month for Paddy Twomey. Adrian Murray duo California Dreamer and Jaliyah, Cercene and Tamam Desert complete the line-up. Los Angeles and White Birch will renew rivalry in a mouthwatering renewal of the Tattersalls Gold Cup, just less than three weeks after a cracking course and distance encounter in the Mooresbridge Stakes. Last year's Irish Derby hero had a neck to spare in that tussle, but John Joseph Murphy's stable star White Birch was having his first outing since impressively seeing off Auguste Rodin in the 2024 renewal of this event. A strong British challenge is headed by Andrew Balding's Champions Fillies & Mares winner Kalpana and Anmaat, a surprise scorer in the Champion Stakes on the same Ascot card for Owen Burrows. Ghostwriter, who raced with credit in a series of Group One events last term and was most recently seen finishing fourth in the Dubai Turf, represents Clive Cox and Karl Burke's Royal Rhyme makes the journey from North Yorkshire. Multiple Group One winner Porta Fortuna will make her four-year-old debut in the Group Two Lanwades Stud Stakes and Coventry Stakes favourite Albert Einstein has his second start in the Group Three GAIN Marble Hill Stakes.
