'She's a lot quicker than our other good fillies' - Venetian Sun shines at the July meeting

Venetian Sun ran out an appropriate winner of the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on a sweltering day on the July course to set up a possible crack at the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville next month.

Fresh from winning the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, the daughter of Starman was extending her unbeaten record to three when bounding out of the Dip under Clifford Lee to hold the late thrust of Royal Fixation by a neck and justify odds of 2-5.

Karl Burke was enjoying a third success in the six-furlong fixture and Venetian Sun was emulating the trainer's Dandalla, who completed the Albany-Duchess of Cambridge double in 2020.

The appearance of the Tony Bloom-owned youngster was an afterthought as she was originally booked for the Lowther Stakes at York following her Ascot triumph, and this success prompted a further rethink.

Clerk of the course Andrew Morris looks on from the stewards' box as Venetian Sun (right) beats Royal Fixation in the Duchess of Cambridge StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Burke said: "We decided to enter her for this only last week as she had no issues after Ascot, and she's done well considering she was in front for a while. I must say she's a league above Dandalla and is so laid-back, she was bombproof in the prelims today.

"I'd say she's a lot quicker than our other good fillies like Fallen Angel and Laurens, and hopefully can have a productive autumn."

The Group 2 contest last hosted a subsequent 1,000 Guineas winner when Mawj obliged in 2022, and Venetian Sun was cut to 12-1 outright favourite (from 16) by bet365 for the 2026 Classic on the nearby Rowley Mile.

Burke added: "I would think the Lowther would be out after that as she's won a Group 2. She's in the Morny, so we'll have a look at that, and going forward I'd say the Moyglare Stud Stakes could also be in the mix. She's a miler at least and also a three-year-old type."

Ed Walker, trainer of the runner-up, said: "I’m very proud of her. When you come into this on the back of winning a Thirsk maiden you don’t really know how good you are, but she's very good. It would have been disappointing had she run badly as we rate her very highly among our two-year-olds.

“To run that filly as close as we did is pretty exciting, as I think the winner is a very special filly. The Lowther would have to be an option."

Another day, another treble for Godolphin team

Just as on Thursday, Charlie Appleby and William Buick helped themselves to a treble, including the promising juvenile Distant Storm, who was given quotes of 33-1 for next year's 2,000 Guineas after battling home in the 7f maiden.

The €1.9 million breeze-up purchase took his time to realise what was required until hitting the rising ground, from where he got up to sink fellow newcomer Constitution River by a short head.

The race was won by none other than Field Of Gold a year ago, but Appleby will resist the temptation to rush him back with next year very much in mind.

Charlie Appleby had another treble at NewmarketCredit: Edward Whitaker

Appleby said: "We'll give him a bit of time. He's still very unfurnished. He's a nice-looking horse, but still needs to strengthen before you go up a level – if you pitch them in too soon, you'll go quickly backwards.

“There will be races in the autumn we can dip our toe in and allow him to progress. If he ticks the next box we can look at the Group 1 target we have pencilled in. He could be an Acomb horse.”

The same connections kicked off their treble, headlined by Cinderella's Dream in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes, when King's Charter reigned supreme in the opening 1m2f handicap.

One better

Ian Williams had three runners in the 1m6f handicap and it was the longest-priced of the trio, Oneforthegutter, who prevailed under Silvestre de Sousa.

The 12-1 chance was going one better than a year ago in the £100,000 contest, coming off a strong pace set by stablemate and 11-4 market leader Dancing In Paris.

Oneforthegutter (Silvestre de Sousa, second left) beats Endless Victory in the 1m6f handicapCredit: Edward Whitaker

The winner was third in the Ebor a year ago but his trainer was undecided about a return for the £500,000 handicap, for which he was cut to a general 25-1 (from 50).

The winning jockey said: "It was the perfect set-up for him with fast ground, a decent gallop and plenty of cover, and when I finally got a gap he was very game."

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