'She’s coming into it as well as she’s ever been' - can anyone stop Albany winner Venetian Sun in the Duchess of Cambridge?

It has been a quiet few weeks for Royal Ascot’s six juvenile winners, but that all changes in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes with the re-emergence of Albany queen Venetian Sun. 

While it is difficult to get a handle on the strength of that form as nothing else from the Albany has run since, Venetian Sun’s performance was one of class and toughness in equal measure.

The Albany was noteworthy for how demanding a test it became. The fast early pace was unforgiving and Venetian Sun’s 97 per cent finishing speed was the slowest across the five days at Royal Ascot in relative terms. Her stamina for an extra furlong came into question after her debut 5f victory at Carlisle, but she displayed that attribute in spades. 

Draw biases regularly present themselves on the straight track at Ascot. However, while Venetian Sun was positioned in the lowest box in the Albany and the next two fillies home were berthed in stalls three and four, the field raced in one group and it is unlikely a low draw gave her any significant advantage.

Venetian Sun: winner of the Albany Stakes at Royal AscotCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Freshman sire Starman has made a bright start with his two-year-olds and Venetian Sun is the star performer among his progeny at this stage. Expect the July course’s stiff finish to play to this filly’s strengths.

Venetian Sun’s biggest danger on paper is an old foe in fast early two-year-old Argentine Tango. She finished closest to Venetian Sun when the pair met at Carlisle and reopposes on 6lb better terms, having improved since to land the Empress Fillies’ Stakes over course and distance in June.

Shine On Me (sixth) and Spicy Marg (tenth) represent the Queen Mary form and must find the sort of improvement Venetian Sun did in the Albany for an extra furlong to get involved.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

Can Venetian give Burke more fun in the sun?

Karl Burke and quality two-year-olds go together like strawberries and cream, with each passing summer bringing more bounty to the trainer’s North Yorkshire base.

The cream of the crop, certainly in the eyes of Burke, is Venetian Sun, a filly he has been unable to stop himself from talking up. So far, Burke’s bullish words have been matched by striking performances on the course, most recently in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The market might have suggested she had only an average chance of success that day, but punters had decided her low draw prevented her from having any chance. They were wrong, as she made it two wins from as many starts with an impressive success.

Connections of Venetian Sun following her Albany successCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The expectation after that run was for Venetian Sun to spend some time away from the course, but her attitude at home prompted a change of heart. Given Burke’s strength in depth with juveniles, and the filly’s ultra-shrewd owners Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy, that change is notable.

Sean Graham, racing manager for Bloom, said: “She’s been in such great form since she won at Ascot. If you’d asked Karl after the race what he was thinking for her, he’d have probably said she’d have a little break and then go to York for the Lowther before the big autumn races.

“However, because she’s been in such good shape we thought we’d better look at this race. She’s coming into it as well as she’s ever been, so hopefully she can show her ability again.”

What they say

William Easterby, assistant to Tim Easterby, trainer of Argentine Tango
We’re really looking forward to it as it’s a pleasure to have a filly capable of running in these races. She’s a course-and-distance winner, which I think is a big advantage, and she’s taking on Venetian Sun on 6lb better terms than when they met at Carlisle. She’s a tough, hardy two-year-old, much like her sire Mattmu, and she’ll be going there to try the very best she can.

Richard Hughes, trainer of Mood Queen
She's in good form and has won at the track, which will help. The way she galloped out to the line was impressive at Newmarket last time. It'll be hard to beat Karl Burke's filly [Venetian Sun], but we'll give it a go.

Richard Hughes: trainer of Mood QueenCredit: Laura Green

Ed Walker, trainer of Royal Fixation
We think she's pretty smart and William Buick rides. The six furlongs will suit and it looks a good race for her. It's a competitive Group 2, but she's an exciting runner.

Michael Bell, trainer of Spicy Marg
She was in season after her run at Royal Ascot, so we’re hoping that was the reason she didn’t run up to expectations. She has a good draw for this race, unlike Ascot when she was out on a limb, so we’re hoping she can give her true running. There’ll be no excuses.
Reporting by Peter Scargill

Friday's Raceday Intel:

3.00 Newmarket: Northumberland Plate form under the microscope as Newcastle runner-up Dancing In Paris bids to go one better 

3.35 Newmarket: Top fillies clash in fascinating Falmouth rematch - but a big-priced three-year-old might have been too readily dismissed 

The Big Story: 'It's a jockey's dream' - James Doyle loving life with Wathnan as the emerging force takes on established heavyweights in a Falmouth to savour 

2.45 York 'She's been working so well we almost supplemented her for the July Cup' - who is impressing ahead of the Summer Stakes at York? 

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