July Cup favourite Venetian Sun is being monitored by trainer Karl Burke after indicating she may be coming into season. The three-year-old filly, owned by Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom in partnership with Ian McAleavy, captured the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot to extend her unbeaten record over 6f to five.
Market Leader for Newmarket Sprint
Venetian Sun heads the market at 5-2 for the all-aged Newmarket sprint, where she will face three other Royal Ascot winners: Almeraq, Mission Central, and Double Rush, for the first time. Burke has not disguised his belief in the daughter of July Cup winner Starman, whom he rates as potentially the best horse he has trained.
“This is certainly the toughest race she has faced, taking on older horses, but she looks fantastic,” said Burke. “She is working every bit as well as she has ever done. To have the favourite is exciting.”
Exceptional Performance on Cut Ground
Burke highlighted Venetian Sun’s performance at Haydock, where she excelled on softer ground. “This filly put up an exceptional performance at Haydock the first time she has had any cut in the ground. If anything she is going to be better with more cut. If she has a chink in her armour we haven’t found it yet. Over those sprint trips I think she is very very good. As a sprinter I would have to say she is the best I’ve trained.”
History is against Venetian Sun, who will bid to become the first three-year-old filly since Habibti in 1983 to win the July Cup.
Recovery After Ascot Win
“After she won at Ascot in that heat, you wouldn’t have thought she’d had a race afterwards. She wouldn’t have blown a candle out, which suggests to me that we haven’t got to the bottom of her,” Burke said. “We have the Breeders’ Cup on the radar. It’s at Keeneland. There is a chance of decent ground. It’s five and a half furlongs. With a good draw that could be right up her street. If she finishes the season in good shape there is every chance she could stay in training next year.”
Monitoring Season Signs
Burke revealed that Venetian Sun had shown signs of being in season after her most recent work. “We’ve never really noticed her before so we will keep an eye on that,” he said. “She hasn’t been showing any signs this morning so hopefully that’s nothing.”
He continued: “I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t be exercising me. Some fillies seem to cope with it and it means nothing, others it can affect them. I’m hoping she doesn’t show any signs of being in season now for the rest of the week, but it’s something that we will monitor.”
Burke cited the example of Evolutionist, who runs in the Falmouth, and Diamond Necklace, who won despite showing signs of being in season. “Ideally you wouldn’t want it but that’s an issue that every trainer with a filly has throughout the year, especially this time of year,” he added.
