Lex Victoria will put her undefeated record on the line in Friday’s bet365 Fillies’ Mile
The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained filly, acquired for €1,100,000 at Arqana, will leap directly from conditions company to top-flight level this Friday at Newmarket. Musical Times (Foto), the May Hill Stakes (G2) winner, looms as the chief candidate over a mile in a contest that could begin to shape the 2027 classic picture
NEWMARKET, England (Special for Turf Diario).— The price paid for a filly can generate huge expectations, but eventually that outlay must be backed up on the racecourse. Lex Victoria has been fulfilling her part of the bargain so far, and this Friday she faces her most demanding test yet when she puts her unbeaten record on the line in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile (G1-1600 m), one of the defining events of the European season for 2-year-old fillies.
The daughter of Sioux Nation, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford for the colors of Victorious Forever, commanded no less than €1,100,000 at the Arqana breeze-up sale, where she topped the proceedings.
Now, following two convincing victories, she will make a significant rise in class: stepping straight from conditions company into a G1, tackling several fillies who have already proven their mettle at the stakes level.
The objective is not merely about preserving her perfect record. Her connections want to discover the outer limits of her ability and begin charting classical plans for 2027.
“It is a very big jump to go straight from maiden and novice company into a G1, but we want to learn just how good she might be and see where we stand against the rest. That will give us a clear idea of how to campaign her next season,” explained Chris Wall, racing manager for the owners.
“She has already shown she possesses plenty of class, and it will be fascinating to see how she measures up against top company.”
Lex Victoria’s campaign remains brief, but it offers plenty of reasons for optimism. She debuted on Newmarket’s July Course, narrowly repelling Thi Qar (Mehmas), who subsequently validated that form with a victory of her own.
Next came her appearance at Kempton, where she left an even stronger impression by dispatching Pink Larkspur(Ghaiyyath) by 4 lengths—a runner who recently scored in fine style at Ascot.
The progression of her former rivals reinforces the high opinion her connections hold. “Her form looks very solid, and the filly who finished second to her at Kempton came right back out and won convincingly at Ascot,” noted Wall.
The move up to a mile triggers little concern either. “She should see out the 1600 meters without any difficulty. I don’t foresee the distance being an issue, and we hope she can unleash her late turn of foot to feature in the finish.”
A Story Evoking Zanthos
The rise of Lex Victoria shares several parallels with that of Zanthos, another daughter of Sioux Nation who carried the same colors under the care of the Crisford barn. She too fetched a marquee price at auction before capturing the Rockfel Stakes (G2) last season.
Wall, however, draws distinct contrasts between the pair. “I believe Lex Victoria is a bigger, more physically developed filly. Zanthos was a bit more high-strung and wanted to get on with things quickly, whereas this filly is far more relaxed and easy to settle.”
That capacity to conserve energy could prove a crucial asset in her inaugural mile attempt.
Musical Times, the One to Beat
Among the eight confirmed entrants, the primary benchmark is Musical Times, representing Godolphin under the care of Charlie Appleby. The filly arrives fresh off a victory in the May Hill Stakes (G2) at Doncaster—a performance that stamped her as one of the standout figures of her generation, a status she will now aim to ratify at the highest level.
That afternoon, she left Scommesa Sicura (Cracksman) 7 1/2 lengths behind in second, a margin that underscored the authority of her performance.
Scommesa Sicura will reoppose, joined this time by Forbidden Fire (No Nay Never), winner of the Flying Scotsman Stakes, forming a dual entry for Andrew Balding.
There is also a formidable presence from the O'Brien family. Aidan O'Brien, winner of two of the last three editions of the Fillies’ Mile, saddles Haven (Wootton Bassett), coming off a win at Dundalk, along with Exceptionally (Into Mischief).
His son Joseph O'Brien will be represented by Dancing Destiny (Magna Grecia), third in the Moyglare Stud Stakes(G1), a performance that marks her as another dangerous contender.
Completing the lineup is Rogue Passion (Sioux Nation), trained by Ed Bethell, who travels down from Yorkshire with compelling credentials.
The filly captured the Prix d'Aumale (G2) in France, and the form of that victory received an extraordinary boost last weekend when Amusingly, whom she had defeated into second, claimed the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (G1).
That result places Rogue Passion among the runners commanding deep respect, even as Musical Times and Lex Victoria attract the lion's share of attention.
