Lake Victoria and Ryan Moore© Photo Healy Racing
The Aidan O'Brien trained Lake Victoria held the late run of Red Letter to make a winning racecourse debut in the Kildare House Hotel Irish EBF Fillies Maiden at the Curragh.
A well related daughter of Frankel, the Ryan Moore partnered newcomer just prevailed from her fellow 5/2jf.
Always prominent in the first half dozen, Moore went second over two furlongs out, edging ahead soon after. Quickening to open up a gap of a couple of lengths on her rivals, the Ballydoyle filly appeared to have the race in safekeeping at that point.
However, Colin Keane soon went in pursuit on Red Letter, gaining with every stride, only to find the line coming too soon.
At the finish, just a head separated the pair, with three-and-three-quarter lengths back to the third.
Aidan O'Brien said: “We're delighted with her. She was showing lovely work at home.
“It was her first day out, first day at the track, so you'd have to be very happy with her. Ryan was very happy with her.
“She was green and Ryan said he didn't mean to send her on as early but when she went there she started pricking her ears and waiting. She was never away and hadn't been in front that much.
“He said he had to make her get down and do it but he said she still had her ears pricked going to the line, that's always a good sign.
“Obviously she'll go into one of the good fillies races. She has loads of speed, they didn't go very fast but she still travelled very well and quickened very well.
“I think probably on to the Silver Flash or something like that. Obviously depending on where some of the other fillies will go and see what the lads want to do.”
Paddy Power went 20/1 about Lake Victoria for the 1000 Guineas and 25/1 Oaks.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
