21-07-2025
Aidan O'Brien may be forced to retire ‘superstar' millionaire horse as he's hit by crushing triple whammy of injuries
A 'SUPERSTAR' Aidan O'Brien horse may have run her final race - as the iconic trainer handles a crushing triple whammy of injuries.
Lake Victoria, who has won more than £1million, has lost just once in her short career, when sixth in the 1,000 Guineas last May.
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She roared back to life with a simple victory in the Irish 1,000 later that month but hasn't been seen since.
O'Brien said in an interview with Sun Racing's Matt Chapman on ITV that she could be 'retired altogether'.
That cruel blow comes at the same time huge doubts have surfaced over Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin.
O'Brien has never hid his admiration for his Marble Hill Stakes winner Albert Einstein, saying he is 'as fast a horse as we have ever seen'.
But the two-year-old colt was forced to miss Royal Ascot when favourite for the Coventry.
Charles Darwin kept the Ballydoyle flag flying with victory in the Norfolk and is currently 9-4 favourite for the Nunthorpe at York's Ebor Festival next month.
But O'Brien said he too recently suffered a setback and may not be seen again until next season.
O'Brien said: "Lake Victoria is not back in exercise. She's doing well physically but she's not back in work yet.
"She might be left alone until next year or retired altogether.
"Those are the decisions that will be made as the weeks go by.
"Albert Einstein, we probably won't see again this year.
"Because he was so special - from the time we first started working him he was always head and shoulders above everything else.
"Everyone was aware of that and I know the way the lads think, usually, they won't want to take any chances whatsoever with him."
While in a separate interview with Racing TV, O'Brien said of Charles Darwin: "He has to come back. He had a little setback as well.
"We've had to ease off after hurting his foot.
"He's a big horse and those type of horses, after having two or three runs, they're educated for next year.
"If you come back and run them, fine, but if you don't, after those two or three runs, it's no problem really."
O'Brien still has a squad of monsters to unleash over the coming weeks.
Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel is all set for a blockbuster rematch with Calandagan in Saturday's King George at Ascot.
Illinois is being prepared for next week's Goodwood Cup - where he could be joined by awesome Bahrain Trophy winner Scandinavia.
Henri Matisse is set to take on Field Of Gold in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
Whirl will clash with See The Fire in the Nassau at the same festival.
While, looking ahead to York next month, breathtaking Coral-Eclipse winner Delacroix is set for round two with Ombudsman in the Juddmonte.
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