Unbeaten fillies Babouche and Lake Victoria go head to head in Cheveley Park Stakes

The depth of this season’s Cheveley Park is poles apart from the Middle Park. We have unbeaten winners of the Phoenix Stakes and Moyglare going up against those who shone brightest in the Queen Mary, Lowther and Duchess of Cambridge, plus a Prix Morny third. It is everything you could ask for in a two-year-old Group 1.

Babouche has been targeted at the Cheveley Park since readily accounting for Whistlejacket in the Phoenix, form which was boosted when the runner-up won the Morny eight days later.

Other interesting candidates have emerged in the interim. Money has arrived for French raider Daylight as the in-running trouble she suffered in the Morny became more apparent to punters. As a daughter of Earthlight, she should thrive on a testing surface and the stage is set for a big run. Lake Victoria may be unbeaten, but her suitability for this test was hard to predict until recently.

It is unusual for Aidan O’Brien to send his Moyglare winner down a furlong in trip barely a fortnight later in the Cheveley Park. That race typically heads the way of future Guineas types and middle-distance fillies rather than sprinters.

It remains to be seen whether Lake Victoria, speedily bred on the dam’s side as a daughter of Commonwealth Cup winner Quiet Reflection, was flattered at the Curragh. The daughter of Frankel was second string on jockey bookings and the yard’s odds-on favourite Bedtime Story finished lame. A thorough test of stamina at this trip will suit.

Babouche’s profile is difficult to knock and slower ground could spark another improved effort based on pedigree. Perhaps Ger Lyons’ record in Britain will be of greater concern for punters. Lyons is a force in Ireland, but is 0-19 here over the past five seasons and 1-27 across the two tracks at Newmarket since he started training. That sole success at least came in this race 13 years ago.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

Ground 'the unknown' for unbeaten Babouche

Babouche and Lake Victoria go head to head with neither of the two unbeaten Irish-trained fillies proven on very testing ground.

Babouche, winner of the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes on good to firm going at the Curragh last month, has reportedly done well physically since, but connections are unsure about how she will handle the conditions.

Barry Mahon, racing manager to owners Juddmonte, said: “She's been a star all year and was impressive when beating the colts at the Curragh. We’ve given her a little break and she has definitely got stronger and put on condition. The question mark is the ground. I don’t know what effect the rain will have on her chances.”

Lake Victoria also arrives after winning her first three starts, including the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes last time, and trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "She's going back to six furlongs, a distance she hasn't run over before. We were thinking of this race before the Moyglare. Before she ran at the Curragh we didn't think she'd have any problem dropping back to six, so we'll see. She's in good form."

What they say

Ed Walker, trainer of Celandine
There is a definite concern about the ground, but everything else is in her favour. She's in cracking form and will love the track.

Pauline Chehboub of Gousserie Racing, co-owners of Daylight
We were drawn out wide in the Morny and Mickael [Barzalona] was concerned to get her covered up and so chose to follow Whistlejacket. Things didn’t open up for her until it was too late, but we were very satisfied with her performance. We thought straight away of the Cheveley Park as she has a lot of natural speed. We’re going there with a lot of hope. The Rowley Mile is quite a special track with the way it falls and rises, but Daylight is a very well-balanced filly and she should handle that side of things. The best sprinting fillies in Europe are there, but she's one of them.

Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan Racing, owners of Leovanni
I don't think she'll like the ground, but there's nothing else for her and there's not likely to be better ground anywhere else. I'd be inclined to say we'll let her take her chance.

Francis Graffard, trainer of Rayevka
She won so easily last time and has really come forward again. It was a case of the race serving as a part of her training regime and preparation. The timing of the Cheveley Park works because she's in fantastic form. Of course it’s a big challenge, but Princess Zahra said that if I thought she was in really good shape I shouldn’t be afraid to go. It's a gamble and we won’t be among the favourites. A lot rests on which filly adapts best to the Rowley Mile.
Reporting by Richard Birch

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