Lake Victoria Extends Unbeaten Record At Del Mar

Lake Victoria (2f Frankel – Quiet Reflection, by Showcasing) overcame significant interference to extend her unbeaten record in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar.

Aidan O’Brien’s star juvenile filly was sent off a short-priced favourite on her first start over a mile, her previous Group 1 wins having come over six and seven furlongs. Racing in touch, she dropped further back when hampered after a furlong, with Ryan Moore waiting until two furlongs out to make his move. Ridden soon after, she was driven to lead a furlong from home and kept on strongly to score by a length and a half.

“She jumped very well,” Moore recalled. “I was having to use a bit of gas to hold my position, and then we got very tight with the five [Totally Justified]. We were stuck to the fence. Usually, when you get bumped around like that it's very hard for a horse to do what she did at the end of a race.

“The pace came out of the race and the damage was done. She got to the front very easily and pricked her ears. She was a level above these.”

An impressed O’Brien added: “It was an incredible performance. She looks very special. She'd only ever run over straight tracks before and it was her first time over a mile, and Ryan gave her a brilliant ride.”

The Coolmore homebred kicked off a double on the day for connections, with Henri Matisse later capturing the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.