Lake Victoria could be great in Guineas

Lake Victoria can extend her unbeaten run to six with Classic glory in the Betfred 1000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket on Sunday.

While Aidan O'Brien has won five of the last 10 renewals, the Ballydoyle handler has been out of luck in the last three and it looked as though this filly might even bypass the race at one point in the early spring as she was taking some time to get in the swing of things.

Clearly she has blossomed in the last few weeks, and with a rating that puts her marginally ahead of hot favourite Desert Flower, a mouthwatering showdown is in store on the Rowley Mile.

Desert Flower was impressive in her Fillies' Mile victory, but Lake Victoria has not just one but three Group One wins to her credit.

Her Moyglare Stud Stakes win was smart, with both Simmering and Red Letter behind her, and she showed admirable fortitude to turn out again just over a week later to add the Cheveley Park Stakes to her tally.

Lake Victoria was at her most memorable when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, as she endured a nightmare run but was still good enough to prevail by 1.5-lengths with plenty seemingly left in the locker.

It is always something of a gamble as to whether star juveniles train on, but both her parents excelled at three and beyond, offering plenty of hope Lake Victoria can also make the leap.

Cinderella's Dream was beaten at short odds on her reappearance in Dubai but the form of that defeat looks particularly strong.

Having won the Grade One Belmont Oaks last season, Charlie Appleby's charge had no luck at all on her final run of 2024 when beaten just 0.5-lengths in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar.

She could not find room to unleash her potent turn of foot there and she was a bit keen on her February return at Meydan, when she found it hard to get past the gutsy winner Choisya.

That rival had the benefit of a run and has since gone on to Grade One glory herself in America, putting Cinderella's Dream to the fore in the Betfred Dahlia Stakes.

Qilin Queen could prove generously priced in the Betfred Pretty Polly Stakes.

Winner of one of her three juvenile outings, she was last seen chasing home Luther in the Listed Ascendant Stakes at Haydock in September, staying on well to be beaten two lengths at long odds.

At Hamilton, College Fund can build on a promising racecourse bow by winning the Darley Stallions EBF Novice Stakes and Liosa can take Salisbury's Text Fitzdares The Private Bookmaker Handicap. - Press Association

SELECTIONS:

HAMILTON: Race 1 - 14.25 Kyber Crystal, Race 2 - 14.55 Azure Zain, Race 3 - 15.35 Alnayef, Race 4 - 16.05 College Fund, Race 5 - 16.45 Epidavros, Race 6 - 17.18 Mister Sky Blue, Race 7 - 17.53 Ana Emaraaty.

NEWMARKET: Race 1 - 14.45 Qilin Queen, Race 2 - 15.20 Cinderella's Dream, Race 3 - 15.55 Story Horse, Race 4 - 16.35 LAKE VICTORIA (NAP), Race 5 - 17.10 Twilight Star, Race 6 - 17.45 Sovereign Spell, Race 7 - 18.20 Merchant.

SALISBURY: Race 1 - 14.30 Waistcoat, Race 2 - 15.00 Piazza, Race 3 - 15.30 Liosa, Race 4 - 16.10 El Matador, Race 5 - 16.50 Judge Frank, Race 6 - 17.25 Earnest Belief, Race 7 - 18.00 Grey Owl.

SLIGO: Race 1 - 14.35 Sci Fi, Race 2 - 15.10 Pause For Peace, Race 3 - 15.45 Lakota Lady, Race 4 - 16.20 Dumb Love, Race 5 - 16.55 Sacred Oath, Race 6 - 17.30 Grizabella, Race 7 - 18.05 Alumni Lia.