Lake Victoria retained her unbeaten record with a stylish performance in the Group One Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.
Sent off the 6/4 favourite after late support, Lake Victoria justified her market position in ready fashion despite dropping to six furlongs for the first time in her career.
A debut winner from the well-regarded Red Letter, the Frankel filly travelled to Newmarket for her second start in the Sweet Solera Stakes on the July Course before stepping up to the top level for the Moyglare Stud Stakes where she came from off the pace to win with something to spare.
She had been ridden from the front on her penultimate start and Ryan Moore reverted to those tactics and was always front rank. Lake Victoria quickened impressively when asked and was good value for her three length winning margin from the appropriately named Daylight.
Arabian Dusk was a half length back in third with Babouche, three from three coming into the race, disappointing in fourth.
Betfair Sportsbook cut Lake Victoria to 7/4 from 5/1 for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and to 5/4 from 9/2 for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf in November. Paddy Power make her the 9/4 favourite (from 3/1) for the Fillies’ Mile and 7/4 favourite for the Guineas.
Victory provided trainer Aidan O'Brien with a record fifth success in the Cheveley Park Stakes having previously been level with Alec Taylor Jr and Criquette Head-Maarek.
O’Brien said: “She quickened very well. For a Frankel filly, she was very impressive over six furlongs. We always had this race in mind and before she won the Moyglare, the plan was to come back here, she’s always worked very quick.
“We wouldn’t normally do it that way round but we had it in our head before the Moyglare we were coming here. She’s obviously very quick. We wouldn’t be afraid of stepping up to a mile, that is what Ryan said. To come back here for the Fillies’ Mile, that’s what Ryan said. We’ll see what the lads want to do.
“We’ve got some good fillies this year, it’s unusual really. It’s very rare to do what she has done, and look more impressive. It was uncomplicated, she wasn’t dropped in, he gave her a lovely ride.
“She was very impressive when she won the Sweet Solera and Sean (Levey) was very impressed with her that day. She was always very classy, even when she ran first time. We’ll let her tell us if she’s going to run again. We did back her up quick, though, and it is a risk doing that.
“We have Dreamy in the Fillies’ Mile too, and it’s possible that she will run.”
Moore added: "She's a very good mind. She got into a lovely rhythm and at halfway it was going to be hard for them to pick her up. When I asked her to quicken at one and a half, she got a little bit lonely then hit the rising ground - very good.
"She might not be done this year yet; she's a couple of options and is a good filly."
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