Victory justifies huge home reputation. (Megan Coggin)
Royal Ascot Release
ASCOT, Berkshire, England—Venetian Sun (7/1) marked herself down as a leading early contender for next year’s 1,000 Guineas with a decisive success in the G3 Albany Stakes.
Carrying the colours of football club owner Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy, the daughter of Starman came through strongly on the far side of the field and opened up to win by a length and a half. Outsiders Awaken (66/1) and Balantina (40/1) filled the places, with the first three home drawn four or lower.
The winner went into many notebooks after justifying strong market support on her debut at Carlisle last month, a track trainer Karl Burke has used to blood many of his highly regarded juveniles.
Burke said: “I think Venetian Sun is a very special filly. The work she has done at home over the last six weeks – I haven’t had a two-year-old filly work like that. She has been kicking all the Group horses out of the way. I worked her with a good old work horse about a month ago, or just after her debut, and then I worked her with another good work horse I knew was reliable, and she did the same to them. I am talking 110-rated horses. I think she is special.”
Lee said: “When Venetia Sun ran first time at Carlisle, she did that very nicely. James at home rides her every day and said to me before the season even started that we had a really good filly on our hands. When she won at Carlisle, a very stiff track, she was very babyish. She probably wasn’t quite switched on but, after that first run, James said she had come on nearly 20lb.
“We are delighted to get one for the team, and another Royal Ascot winner. You think you come here with a really good chance, but so do 20 other runners in the race. It is a bit of a lottery unless you’re riding the top-quality horses, but we knew we had a good filly on our hands.
“Mr Burke has given me plenty of chances all over the country, and in different countries. And thanks to Mr Bloom for letting me keep the ride on such a big day. I have had a bit of success for him and hopefully we get some more.”
Bloom said: “We were concerned about the draw [1], but we knew how good a horse Venetian Sun is. Karl Burke didn’t stop telling us, and she has run unbelievably to win in this field at Royal Ascot.
“Karl has huge belief in her. The last six weeks, her work at home has been outstanding, so we came with confidence. She has improved so much from her first run at Carlisle. It was a stiff track at Carlisle, and she was in front for quite a long way. Looking at her run today, I am confident she can go further. We are looking ahead to next season and the 1,000 Guineas.
“It is always amazing to be at Royal Ascot with a runner, let alone a winner, so I am really pleased. It is a beautiful day and a beautiful start to the day.”
McAleavy said: “Karl did say Venetian Sun was the best two-year-old filly he has had, so he did give us a lot of confidence. We were happy to back her and great credit to everyone at the yard, and credit to Cliff. I don’t think everything went for her, as she had a tough draw, and she didn’t have much cover.”
George Boughey said of the runner-up: “I am delighted with Awaken. She is a filly who is still very raw and green. That [performance] was not unexpected, even though she was 66/1. I was delighted with her work, and she is a nice replacement for Believing for Highclere. It is great to have a good horse for them and long may it continue.”Balantina’s jockey Tom Marquand said: “A huge run. A little bit frustrating she started a touch slow, like she did her first run, but she ran massive. I thought it was a good salvage performance to pick up a place, as it was tough work from where she was
