Lake Victoria (Ryan Moore) winning at Newmarket© Photo Healy Racing
Lake Victoria looks to have ‘everything in her favour’ as she bids to justify evens favouritism and maintain her unbeaten record in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf this evening.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained daughter of Frankel has proved versatile both in terms of ground and distance, finishing strongly to take the Moyglare Stud Stakes before enjoying further Group 1 glory when dropping down to six furlongs in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.
Stable representative Chris Armstrong said, “Ryan has got options (from stall one) and will be able to figure it out.
“She has been impeccable all year; her form is rock-solid from the very start and it would be lovely for her to finish off the season on a high. She takes all the racing very well and she is very good mentally.
“The track and ground will suit her, and everything should be in her favour. The mile will be no problem to her, and it is an easy mile around there with the bends.”
The Ballydoyle team are also represented by Heavens Gate, whose three wins include a neck verdict last time over Fiery Lucy in the Group 3 Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh, and Armstrong added: “Heavens Gate has been a consistent filly all year and is a great ride for Wayne.
“She has run up against some good ones and, obviously, she won the Ballyhane, but her runs in Group races have been tough.
“Ryan gave her a lovely ride at the Curragh and she is another filly going there with a big shot.”
Gavin Cromwell’s Fiery Lucy also takes her chance in this mile event with regular partner Gary Carroll again in the saddle.
There is further Ballydoyle interest at Del Mar in the early hours of the morning Irish time as Henri Matisse lines up for the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
The Wootton Bassett colt hasn’t looked the most straight forward on occasions but has scored twice at Group 2 level including a length defeat of Hotazhell in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.
“We put the blinkers on him in France the last day and it was just a messy race. With the bumping early on in the race, with the blinkers on, he just got a bit of a fright,” said Armstrong.
“Ryan knew his fate early on and he looked after him. You could see him bouncing back.
“It is a very good race, but the blinkers have been left off him. He has run some very good races and maybe we haven't seen the best of him yet this year."
Quotes by Michael Graham
