Impressive win for Lake Victoria in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes
Frankel two-year-old Lake Victoria produced a superb display on Saturday to win the Gr.1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes, her second top-level win as a juvenile.
Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 29th September 2024, by Sean Cronin:
Saturday's Gr.1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes was billed as a heavyweight bout between unbeaten TDN Rising Stars Lake Victoria and Babouche and it was the former who emerged on top with a scintillating performance dropped in trip for the six-furlong test.
Lake Victoria had attained 'Rising Star' status in her 28th June debut over seven furlongs at the Curragh before notching a pillar-to-post victory in last month's Gr.3 Sweet Solera Stakes and went postward as the 6-4 favourite returning off a one and a quarter-
length success in the Curragh's Gr.1 Moyglare Stud Stakes.
The eventual winner was swiftly into stride and headed the smaller stands' side group of three, racing in an overall second, through the early fractions. Inching ahead at halfway, she was shaken up heading into the dip and powered clear in impressive fashion to outclass Gr.1 Prix Morny third Daylight by three lengths, becoming a record-breaking fifth winner of the contest for Aidan O'Brien. Arabian Dusk was a half-length away in third, herself a length and a quarter s in front of the free-pulling Babouche.
"She quickened very well and was very impressive over six furlongs," Aidan O'Brien commented.
"We always thought she could come here after the Moyglare as she was always very quick in her work. She was more impressive today and made her own running. Ryan gave her a lovely ride, he made it look so simple and she is obviously very quick and very talented. Ryan said she could come back here for the [Gr.1] Fillies' Mile, but we'll see what the lads want to do. We have backed her up quickly and we will let her tell us if she goes again this season. She has always been very classy and we thought that the first time she ran at the Curragh. She looks a [G1 1000] Guineas filly as she travels and quickens really well and has a lot of speed, which are all the things you need here. She is very exciting."