Venetian Sun out to shine in Commonwealth Cup

Hot favourite Venetian Sun features among 25 confirmations for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on Friday.

Karl Burke’s daughter of Starman was the winner of the Albany Stakes at this meeting last season and while she had her stamina limitations exposed in the 1000 Guineas in early May, she bounced back with a brilliant display in the Sandy Lane at Haydock three weeks later, scorching three lengths clear of William Haggas’ Division, who could reoppose next week.

That striking success saw her shoot to the head of the betting for a race her trainer won with Quiet Reflection 10 years ago and connections are hopeful Venetian Sun can follow in her hoofprints.

Sean Graham, racing manager to part-owner Tony Bloom, said: “Venetian Sun is in great form and came out of the race at Haydock in great shape, with Karl very happy with her.

“We would love to see her run well at Ascot and then it could open so many possibilities for her sprinting.”

After winning four times as a two-year-old, including a Group One success in the Prix Morny, connections felt they had no option but to aim high for Classic honours at the beginning of this season.

However, having clearly failed to stay the mile at Newmarket, she is back utilising her proven speed over the distance she has previously thrived.

“It’s nice to go there with such a high-class filly and the one thing about it is, it was a team decision to go for the Guineas and it is something we had to do,” explained Graham.

“Her run in the Moyglare (Stud Stakes, at the Curragh last September) didn’t really tell us much and we were always hopeful that she might get the mile because she is so relaxed in her races. But the Guineas showed she didn’t and Clifford (Lee, jockey) immediately said she’s just a fast filly who didn’t stay.

“It made the decision to go back sprinting easy. If she had finished fifth or sixth you might have been tempted to go again in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and then you don’t really know where you are.

“We learned nice and early where we are and it made that decision to go back to six furlongs so much easier.”

The well-touted Albert Einstein is one of three possible runners for Aidan O’Brien along with last year’s Norfolk Stakes winner Charles Darwin and Brussels.

Albert Einstein was beaten a neck by Song Of The Clyde when dropping back to six furlongs in the Carnarvon Stakes last month and the Newbury winner is one of two in the mix for trainer Clive Cox, who has won this previously with Golden Horde and will also saddle Royal Ascot Trials day winner Coppull.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Havana Hurricane won the Windsor Castle Stakes at the meeting last year and was not far behind Song Of The Clyde and Albert Einstein at Newbury when third, with Charlie Appleby’s Wise Approach, fourth on that occasion also confirmed.

Jim Boyle’s 2000 Guineas fourth Into The Sky is another given the option of dropping back in distance, likewise Robson De Aguiar’s Irish 2,000 Guineas fourth Power Blue and Simon and Ed Crisford’s Rockfel Stakes scorer Zanthos after her run in the French 1000 Guineas.

America’s Wesley Ward won this with Campanelle in 2021 and could be represented by Outfielder, who was an intended runner at Royal Ascot last year before meeting a setback and is unbeaten so far this term.

Further international spice comes from France via Francis-Henri Graffard’s Samangan and Patrik Olave Valdivielso’s Prix Sigy scorer My Calyx Cen.