News & Media

Ryan Moore praised the return to form of Lake Victoria as the filly stormed home to win the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

The hotly-tipped 10/11 favourite bounced back superbly from her sixth-place finish at Newmarket three weeks ago in the Betfred 1000 Guineas Stakes – a race which ended her then five-race winning streak.

The filly produced a dominant performance in the Irish sunshine, pulling away with a furlong to go from the 50/1-priced California Dreamer, who finished second.
Cercene was third in the feature race while Swelter, who was fourth at the halfway stage, could only come home in ninth.

Moore has now won the Classic for a fourth time on board an Aidan O’Brien-trained horse - having taken the spoils with Hermosa six years ago, and with Winter and Marvellous in 2017 and 2014 respectively.

And the 41-year-old believes there is more to come from her.

“She was very good today,” he said.

“At Newmarket, she wasn’t quite there when she went around, but today, she was a lot better than them. She quickened up very well and she is a very smart filly.

“She is an exciting horse and does everything beautifully. Her record last year was very good, and I am glad that she is able to get back on track.

“She is very good and will be very hard for other fillies to handle.

“Let’s see what she does in future, and if she keeps building, then hopefully she can step up again. I don’t think we’ve got to the bottom of her yet."

Lake Victoria’s record now stands at six wins from seven races – with three of those being recorded at the Curragh – with today's performance once again demonstrating her talents on the track.

With the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot coming up in just under a months’ time, trainer O’Brien has earmarked that race as the next step in her already successful journey.

He said: “The plan was that she would come here and then go to the Coronation.

“I asked Ryan what he would do, and he said that would be the right thing to do.

“The lads will discuss that with Ryan and if they are all happy, that is what we’ll do.

“But I imagine that is the prefect route to go with her.”

That victory was Moore’s fourth of the day, having guided Los Angeles home first in the Tattersalls Gold Cup – the other Group 1 race of the day.

He recorded three triumphs when teaming up with Aidan O’Brien having also won on Albert Einstein in the Gain Marble Hill Stakes.

Los Angeles, the 2/1 favourite held of a spirited charge from Anmaat late on to claim victory in the Group 1, with last year’s winner White Birch finishing fourth, largely due to being boxed in for much of the race.

And O’Brien was over the moon with the four-year-old's exploits.

“He is a very good horse,” he added. “The pace was strong, and he kept the race going for everybody really. So you were always going to see the best horse win when that happens.

“Ryan gave him a brilliant ride and he’s a tough customer. If you come after him slow, it is very hard to get by him because he doesn’t lie down.”

Moore’s other winner came courtesy of Porta Fortuna’s well-timed charge in the Lanwades Stud Stakes for trainer Donnacha O’Brien, who had a one-two in the opening race of the day as Oisin Murphy triumphed on Balantina ahead of 7/4 favourite Cape Sounion in the Tally Ho Stud Irish European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden.