Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1)

AIDAN O’Brien notched a record-extending 10th win in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes - but not with the filly many expected.

Unbeaten classic hope Lake Victoria triggered a minor upset at 11/2 in the Curragh's opening Group 1 on day two of the Irish Champions Festival. It marked a first top-level victory since 2020 for rider Wayne Lordan, and a first since suffering serious injuries in a fall during last year’s Irish Derby.

Sensational Royal Ascot heroine Bedtime Story was sent off the 4/5 favourite to extend her unbeaten sequence of four wins for O’Brien and the Coolmore partners but ultimately proved too difficult to settle in front under Ryan Moore and that left the race wide open. She also was found to be lame post race.

Each of the five runners held chances inside the final furlong, as they fanned out across the track, but it was Lake Victoria - one of four representatives for Frankel - who came home best down the outer to score by a length and a quarter from British challenger Simmering (trained by Ollie Sangster).

The winner’s stablemate Exactly was another short-head further back in third under Declan McDonogh, while Red Letter (trained by Ger Lyons) still ran a race of promise in fourth when beaten under a length and a half. Bedtime Story faded to trail the field, beaten a little over two and a half lengths in total.

“Lake Victoria is a very good filly, very classy,” said O’Brien.

“She was very green in front when she won here the first day and Ryan felt she got there way too early after her pace took her there. She then went to Newmarket and won very impressively.

“We thought that she would finish second to Bedtime Story, but Bedtime Story just hit the gates, Ryan couldn't get her back and that was it. When that happens, it’s usually over. It was always a worry with what she did at Ascot that it could happen, and we took her very gently the next twice afraid it could happen. She’ll be grand. We’ll go gentle and slow her down a bit.”

O’Brien indicated it’s a possibility the winner could go to the Cheveley Park Stakes next. She was cut to 6/1 (from 16/1) for next year’s 1000 Guineas on the back of this performance.

“She’s very fast,” said the Ballydoyle handler. “She's by Frankel but she's made like a sprinter. Her dam [Quiet Reflection] was very quick.”

On the winning rider, O’Brien added: “I'm delighted for Wayne. He's a great fella and he does a lot of work day in day out at home. We're so lucky to have him here after what happened in the Irish Derby. He went through a tough time for four or five months, so nobody deserves it more. He's a great, world-class rider.”