Fillies to the fore as Lake Victoria stakes Guineas claim and Bluestocking advances Arc case

Bedtime Story was expected to maintain her unbeaten record in the Moyglare Stud Stakes on day two of the Irish Champions Festival at the Curragh, but it was Lake Victoria who said goodnight to her rivals. Last month’s Sweet Solera winner took to Group 1 standard like a duck to water and put the rest of the field, including the disappointing favourite, in their place to run out a ready winner.

Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power reacted by making her a 5-1 chance for next year’s 1,000 Guineas and there is a fair possibility she will now go into the winter as favourite for the first fillies’ Classic of 2025.

Barely minutes earlier, Bluestocking toughed it out to record her second Group 1 victory of the season in the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp and bookmakers responded by halving her in price for the Arc, shortening her to 8-1 for next month’s showpiece, for which she needs to be supplemented.