Lake Victoria maintained her flawless record with a dazzling triumph in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.
Aidan O'Brien’s Frankel filly, who was dropping back to six furlongs after winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven earlier this month, was the 6-4 favourite for the Group One, and was ridden masterfully by Ryan Moore to lead the pack of runners on the inner rail in the opening stages.
The two groups combined halfway through the race and with two furlongs left to travel, Lake Victoria was clearly faring best of all.
Once Moore pressed the button, she strode into a clear lead in the final furlong and went on to prevail comfortably by three lengths from Daylight, with the previously unbeaten Babouche a disappointing fourth.
The winner is now the clear favourite for the Fillies’ Mile and next year’s 1000 Guineas.
The Group 1 @JuddmonteFarms Cheveley Park Stakes goes the way of Aidan O'Brien's talented filly Lake Victoria, who remains unbeaten after a quite sensational performance, ridden by Ryan Moore 🚀 pic.twitter.com/hhNf5ZWv3x
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) September 28, 2024
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."
Shadow Of Light made short work of his rivals to register a superb success in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
The Charlie Appleby-trained son of Lope De Vega was second favourite in the betting behind Whistlejacket on the back of two wins and a staying-on second in the Gimcrack at York.
Godolphin's 11-4 chance was ridden by William Buick for the Group One and settled at the back of the field of six early on.
While others made the running, he was always well placed and two furlongs from home eased his way into the lead to then canter to a wide-margin victory, beating odds-on market leader Whistlejacket by four lengths.
Shadow Of Light was cut to for the 2000 Guineas and for the Commonwealth Cup on the back of the win.
Shadow Of Light leaves his rivals chasing shadows, striding clear in the @JuddmonteFilms Middle Park Stakes, as @WilliamBuickX and Charlie Appleby team up for success once again 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RIFUV55NYq
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) September 28, 2024
Appleby said: "I wouldn’t have said he was unlucky in the Gimcrack by any stretch but we all know it is a big step up to that level and he learned plenty from there.
"As a physical, he has maintained it, but mentally he jumped forward so much from that run and we came here quietly confident today.
"You could say 'why did you have him in the Mill Reef last week and pull him out’, well we pulled him out because of the heavy ground and at the time I just thought we’d be confident coming here today with the favourite to beat, but last week we’d have been an absolute certainty on sensible ground.
"When the ground started drying out, we felt it suited us more than the favourite to be honest."
Wimbledon Hawkeye served it up to his rivals to land the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes
The Kameko colt, who is trained by James Owen and owned by the Gredley Family, had impressed when second to The Lion In Winter in the Acomb at York and was a 4-1 chance under James Doyle for the Group Two.
After a nice passage throughout the mile contest, he began to stride clear of the field ahead of the final furlong and came home a length and a half ahead of runner-up Royal Playwright.
Wimbledon Hawkeye continues his upward curve in fine style, staying on gamely in the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes with @the_doyler in the saddle 🏆@JPOwenRacing | @JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/FIF0ZxFStg
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) September 28, 2024
Owen, who only began training Flat horses in January, said: "He's got stronger all year and has improved with every run – I’ve learned at a little bit slower rate than he has!
"Life’s great, I’m really enjoying it and I can’t thank the Gredley family and my other owners enough, horses like this make it all worthwhile. He’s a horse to dream of.
"You’d have to be thinking of the Guineas; a mile is fine, he handles the track well and for me he’s a proper Guineas prospect. Whether he runs again this season, I don’t see why not, we’ll see how he is.
"He’s in the Futurity at Doncaster, which is a possibility, or we could look to the Breeders’ Cup."
Liberty Lane surged to a decisive victory in the bet365 Cambridgeshire.
Just like last year's victor Astro King, he made light of carrying a welter burden of 9st 12lb to dominate the prestigious handicap.
Trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, the bay started at 8-1 in a field of 31 for the valuable nine-furlong contest.
He stuck with the group on the outer rail and as the race progressed, it was clear he was on the right side, as he gained ground continually to secure a clear success, coming home two and a half lengths ahead of James McHenry.
It capped a memorable seven days for Burke, who saddled the first three home in last week’s Ayr Gold Cup, with Lee winning on Lethal Levi.
Burke said: "He needs conditions in his favour, which they were today, and he needs a target to aim at, which he had in Balmacara, who went forward, so we were happy with the draw.
"He had horses around him but I was a little bit concerned at halfway when the camera angle changed and it looked like we had a length or two to make up, but he’s got a few gears.
"I think I’d have been happier if he’d had a lead for longer, but Cliff said he was going so well he was happy to kick on, he was in a lovely rhythm, as in his early days he could be a bit keen.
"I ran him in the Dante and he ran too free but he still led them to the furlong pole that day and there were some high-class horses in that race. He’s always been a very good horse and he’s just getting his act together now.
"He ran very well at Doncaster last time out and I was a bit worried this race was coming a week too soon but he’s just come right at the right time.
"There’s no plans, I’ll talk to his owner, there might be something abroad, I don’t know."
