Lee’s decision vindicated with big Haydock double

Clifford Lee’s decision to ride at Haydock rather than head to Ireland for Classic action paid dividends as Venetian Sun and Night Raider served up a sprinting masterclass for the jockey and trainer Karl Burke.

With the action switched to the inner track after a lengthy delay, it was the Sandy Lane Stakes which proved well worth the wait as last year’s Prix Morny winner Venetian Sun left 1000 Guineas disappointment well behind her returned to sprinting.

The exceptional daughter of Starman was sent off the 7-4 favourite under a confident Lee who was always holding on to plenty of horse before unleashing her to advertise her devastating turn of foot.

Venetian Sun scorched to a three-length success over chief market rival Division and saw her odds for another Royal Ascot triumph, this time in the Commonwealth Cup having won the Albany last year, trimmed to 5-2 from 7s by Paddy Power.

Lee told ITV Racing: “She’s a great filly and won me my first Group One in France last year and back to six furlongs I always thought she was the horse to beat.

“She was a little bit keen and I was probably a little further back than I wanted to be, but when I saw Division come upsides me and then was sort of in front, I always knew I had it in the bag.

“It almost caught a length out of me, but my filly came back on the bridle well and I just didn’t want to be hitting the front too soon.”

Things would soon get better for Lee and Burke as Night Raider supplemented his winning return in Newmarket’s Palace House Stakes to add the Group Two William Hill Temple Stakes.

Known for his front-running, the 3-1 favourite this time had to showcase he could do things from behind having been slightly slowly away and having worked his way into contention, the five-year-old came through powerfully for a length success over Jim Goldie’s Royal Ascot hero American Affair.

Lee said: “He’s a fantastic horse and it didn’t really go to plan, this isn’t his style of running, but once I was able to switch him, he really picked up nicely for me.

“It’s fantastic and I can only thank the boss and the owners for giving me the opportunities. It’s fantastic when you get to ride horses like this on big race days and you get winners which is fantastic.”