The clash between Desert Flower and Lake Victoria is on after both star fillies were declared to run in the May 4 One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket Racecourse.
The duo went unbeaten during their juvenile campaigns last year, with Godolphin's homebred Desert Flower emerging as the red-hot favorite for the opening fillies' classic of the season with a hugely impressive performance over the course and distance in the Fillies' Mile (G1) Oct. 11. She ended the season 4-for-4 with an additional stakes win in the May Hill Stakes (G2).
Bred by Godolphin in Ireland, the filly is by Night of Thunder out of the Kentucky-bred Hard Spun mare Promising Run, a multiple group 2 winner. Promising Run has also produced a group 3 winner in Dubawi colt Aablan from her first three foals to race.
Desert Flower will be partnered by William Buick again and bids to give the rider and Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby their first victory in the One Thousand Guineas, in which a field of 10 will go to post.
However, Lake Victoria stands in their way and she enjoyed an equally impressive juvenile campaign. After breaking her group 1 duck in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) at the Curragh in September, she scored at this track in the Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) before landing the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf (G1T) in November.
Aidan O'Brien had warned last month that she was not a certain runner in the race, but she takes her chance and will be his only representative for Coolmore-affiliated owners Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Mrs. John Magnier. The Frankel filly is the first group winner for her dam, the 2016 Commonwealth Cup (G1) winner Quiet Reflection, who was a 2.1 million-guinea purchase out of the 2017 Tattersalls December Mare Sale.
Impressive Dubai Duty Free Stakes (G3) winner Duty First, who was supplemented for the race this week, will take her chance. She will be ridden by regular jockey Hollie Doyle, who seeks a first British classic success.
Red Letter will be Ger Lyons' only runner after Chantez was not declared. The Juddmonte-owned 3-year-old was last seen finishing fourth behind Lake Victoria in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh in September.
Ollie Sangster will be double-handed with group 2-winning juvenile Simmering and Flight, while Chantilly Lace, Elwateen, Hey Boo, and Remaat complete the line-up.
