'Knowing her, she probably will come good in time' - Aidan O'Brien hopeful Lake Victoria can make 1,000 Guineas

Aidan O'Brien is still hopeful last season's star juvenile filly Lake Victoria can come to hand in time for the Betfred 1,000 Guineas despite an extended break, but said stablemate Fairy Godmother is more firmly on track.

Lake Victoria produced an extraordinary juvenile campaign, winning all five of her starts including Group 1s over seven furlongs, six furlongs and a mile in the space of six weeks. The Frankel filly produced an electric late run to land the Moyglare Stud Stakes in September, bolted up by three lengths in the Cheveley Park and then took the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar.

O'Brien reported her in fine form but said she is taking more time to come to hand compared to her stablemates, albeit he is still hopeful of her lining up for the fillies' Classic, for which she is a best-priced 10-1 chance.

"Lake Victoria is in good form and was at the Curragh last weekend," said O'Brien. "She had a long break, longer than the others, because her year was very long. She went nice at the Curragh in an easy piece of work. 

"I'm not sure she'll make the Guineas, but we're training her for it. If she doesn't, she'll go to the Athasi Stakes at the Curragh the day after. Knowing her, she probably will come [good] in time because she's that type of filly. Physically, she has done very well."

Fairy Godmother (right) wins the Albany Stakes at Royal AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Even if Lake Victoria does not make it, O'Brien still has the talented Fairy Godmother firmly in the mix. The Night Of Thunder filly landed a Group 3 at Naas on her second start before producing an astonishing performance to win the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot despite meeting a world of trouble in running.

A general 5-1 shot for the 1,000 Guineas, she is on course to head to Newmarket without a run in a bid to follow in the footsteps of O'Brien's last three winners of the race – Mother Earth (2021), Love (2020), Hermosa (2019) – who all scored on their seasonal return.

"Fairy Godmother was also at the Curragh last weekend, when we were very happy with her," said O'Brien. "She worked seven furlongs with an ease in the ground and got it very well. She did an unusual thing at Ascot and it's very possible she could go to the Guineas without a run."

Last seen landing the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown by six and a half lengths, Exactly is also a possible Newmarket contender, as is last season's stunning Chesham Stakes winner Bedtime Story.

The champion trainer said: "Exactly could run in the English Guineas or go to France. She's very straightforward and is working great. She was very good at Leopardstown, but we made too much use of her in the Boussac. I should have told Christophe [Soumillon] to maybe be a little more reserved with her as she quickens very well. She's very smart.

"Bedtime Story is a little highly strung, a bit like her sister Content. She tries to do a bit too much so I'd imagine wherever she runs, she'll run second or third string where there will be no pressure as we'll try to switch her off. She ran too keen a few times after Ascot. We thought Content wouldn't stay a mile and a half but she did, so there's probably every chance she could too."

Betfred 1,000 Guineas, (3.40 Newmarket, May 4)
Paddy Power: 6-4 Desert Flower, 5 Fairy Godmother, 8 Lake Victoria, 10 Red Letter, Falling Snow, 16 bar

Read more from Aidan O'Brien's media event . . .

New favourite for the 2,000 Guineas after Aidan O'Brien warns race may come too soon for The Lion In Winter  

Is this the year when Aidan O'Brien ends his British Guineas mini drought?  

Ballydoyle young guns will have to play second fiddle to 'incredible' Kyprios this season according to Aidan O'Brien   

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