‘Top class’ Venetian Sun loses little in July Cup defeat

Venetian Sun may have just fallen short in her bid to supplement Royal Ascot glory in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes but Karl Burke left Newmarket content his sprinting star has again cemented her top-class status.

The participation of the Commonwealth Cup winner had been in some doubt due to the quick going on the July course and although connections elected to roll the dice with the six-time winner, she drifted from the position at the head of the betting she had held all week to odds of 6-1 at the off.

However, supporters who remained loyal were rewarded with a fine run for their money in defeat, as she chased down the impressive winner Comanche Brave to within a length – a performance that had Burke looking ahead to unleashing the daughter of Starman with ease in the ground later in the season.

“She’s a top-class filly and proved that today and I just hope when the autumn comes we get the rain we’re not getting now,” he said.

“I don’t think we’ve ever been ground dependent and she’s raced on this ground as a two-year-old, but every time she’s been running and winning Cliff (Lee) has come in and said she feels the ground.

“The only time she has run on soft ground was in the Temple Stakes at Haydock and she showed what she could do then.”

Deauville’s Prix Maurice de Gheest could prove a next port of call for Venetian Sun if she recovers sufficiently from her Newmarket exertions, but Burke is also eyeing major assignments at Haydock, Ascot and Stateside at the Breeders’ Cup before the season ends.

“There’s three races in the autumn, but we have to think about the French race first and if she comes out of this well then that’s a possibility,” continued Burke.

“That’s just short of six and a half furlongs on a flat track as well so it’s a possibility and we’ll just do what is best for her.”

It was Satono Reve who was the 2-1 favourite following Venetian Sun’s pre-race drift, but the Japanese raider’s wait for an elusive victory on British soil continues as he again had to settle for a place on the podium in third.

His jockey Christophe Lemaire said: “He travelled well, really comfortably and very relaxed. I was pleased with the way he was running, but unfortunately he didn’t pick up very well when I asked him.

“He stayed on with his beautiful stride, but could not gear up really which is a bit disappointing. He fought on until the end.”

Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien relished watching his son Donnacha take home the spoils but also nominated York’s Nunthorpe Stakes and a drop back to five furlongs for his King Charles III Stakes winner Mission Central after he failed to feature at the business end testing the waters at six furlongs.

O’Brien: “Ryan (Moore) just felt he maybe got hung up on the fast pace early, but he ran OK. They went very fast and he jumped quick and he was just there on the pace.

“I’d say he might be better going back to five furlongs. I’m not sure, but York and the Nunthorpe is there for him.

“I’m delighted for Donnacha, it’s unbelievable and he’s done an incredible job with the horse. He ran well in Hong Kong and has progressed with every run, he was a little unlucky the last day at Royal Ascot.”