AID’S SWEET ON VICTORIA
LAKE VICTORIA could give Aidan O’brien his first success in the Jenningsbet Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket today.
Not many races of note have eluded the Ballydoyle handler throughout his decorated career, but this Group
Three is one missing from his
CV and he could have identified the perfect candidate to initiate change.
A game winner of a Curragh maiden on debut, the form of that race now reads strongly, with the runner-up Red Letter winning in style on her next start and on course for Group-race engagements of her own in the future.
Regally-bred as a daughter of Frankel out of the dual Group One-winning mare Quiet Reflection, Lake Victoria now makes an immediate step up in grade on her second start and with Ryan Moore required at the Curragh, it is Sean Levey who has been handed steering duties on the July course.
Swaziland-born Levey spent six years as an apprentice at Ballydoyle before relocating to England.
“We were very happy with her debut and we think she’s happy for another run,” said O’brien (left).
“We’re hoping she’ll run a nice race and we think the experience will do her good.
“We’ve trained a few out of Quiet Reflection, but she’d be the sharpest, being by Frankel, the others were more middle-distance types, she looks the quickest one.
“Her maiden form looks strong, the second has won well since and she’d be one of our nicer fillies, we liked her when she ran.”
Charlie Appleby is another seeking to break his Sweet Solera duck, relying on Mountain Breeze, who has shown plenty of ability so far.
Twice a winner on the Rowley Mile earlier in the campaign, the half-sister to
Pinatubo was a respectable fourth behind Fairy
Godmother in the
Albany Stakes at Royal
Ascot, before giving
Arabian Dusk most to think about over six furlongs at this track in the Duchess of
Cambridge Stakes.
“We feel that stepping up to seven is the right way for Mountain Breeze and it should produce a bit more improvement,” Appleby told the Godolphin website.
“She should be very competitive on the back of what she has already achieved and this will hopefully open up a few more doors for her heading into the autumn.”