After an outstanding juvenile campaign highlighted by three top-level wins, LAKE VICTORIA(nap) lost her unbeaten record in the 1,000 Guineas. However, there were mitigating circumstances stemming from her preparation, and with her fitness advanced, she can turn the tables on Ollie Sangster's placed duo Flight and Simmering. Of the pair, the last-named was a superior juvenile, with form including second place to Lake Victoria in the Moyglare. Of the three unbeaten fillies in the field, Swelter, who made a strong impression on her seasonal debut at Leopardstown, rates a bigger threat than Athasi winner Atsila or debut maiden scorer City Of Memphis. [Alan Sweetman]
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Half-sister to Layfayette whose Pattern wins have included two at Group 2 level at this track;; dam 1m winner; debut maiden winner from an 85-rated rival at Bellewstown early last month; took the rise in class in her stride when beating the experienced Cercene over C&D early this month.
Placed in three Pattern races at two, best effort when second over 6f on good ground at this venue; took advantage of a good opportunity in 1m AW maiden at Dundalk in February; dropped away in the final furlong in the 7f Fred Darling; better over 1m here last time, but held by Atsila on that running.
Made a promising debut at Gowran last July; Naas maiden winner on second outing; failed to cope with soft ground in a C&D Group 3 on final juvenile start; two solid runs in defeat, third behind Swelter at Leopardstown, and second to Atsila; no strong reason why she should reverse form with any of those three.
Justified a strong home reputation with an emphatic odds-on debut at Cork; that was only 19 days ago, and this is a demanding task in the circumstances; stable in flying form.
Winner and Group-placed at two; belied her 33-1 odds with a clear-cut success in the 7f Fred Darling at Newbury on seasonal debut; fading when stumbling over a furlong down in the 1,000 Guineas; still has to prove she stays this far.
Very consistent (22133) last season; Sandown maiden win was flanked by good efforts in races won by Desert Flower, including the May Hill; got closer than previously to the Godolphin's unbeaten star when beaten one length in the 1,000 Guineas, the same margin in front of stablemate Simmering who raced in the larger group on the far side.
Won Cork maiden over this trip on good-to-firm last autumn; had notched a win and two seconds from three runs this year but over longer trips and at a level a long way removed from Classic standard.
Two wins from four Irish starts last season, notably a comfortable success over an extended 7f in a Listed race at Tipperary; stronger form in defeat in two trips to Britain; got within 1 1/2l of Desert Flower when overtaking Flight half a furlong out in the May Hill; thoroughly outpointed by the Godolphin star in the Fillies' Mile.
Star juvenile, 5-5 including Group/Grade 1 races at three different trips, namely the 7f Moyglare at this venue (good), the 6f Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket (soft) and 1m Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar (firm); ran as if she needed it when sixth in the 1,000 Guineas; preparation was not ideal; likely to be much closer to peak form now.
Solid juvenile campaign featured Group wins over 6f/7f in Britain/France and a good second to Lake Victoria over 7f at this track in the Moyglare; fourth in the Prix Marcel Boussac; doubts raised by a tame run in the Fred Darling on reappearance; left that form behind when third in the 1,000 Guineas, one length behind stablemate Flight.
Made a winning introduction over this trip at Leopardstown last July; did not appear again at two; had no trouble coping with the shorter trip when beating the experienced Exactly in a 7f Group 3 contest at Leopardstown eight weeks ago; leading chance for trainer who won this in 2022 and 2023.
Won a Galway maiden over 7f last September on second start; 33-1 when fifth of eight in a middle-distance Group 3 race at Naas on reappearance; out of her depth.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
