Trainer Karl Burke believes talented filly Venetian Sun remains every bit as exciting as she was last season as the Group One-winning three-year-old drops back to six furlongs for Saturday’s William Hill Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock Park.
The North Yorkshire handler, who has previously won the prestigious Group Two sprint with Quiet Reflection and El Caballo, is confident the daughter of Starman can bounce back after her unsuccessful attempt over a mile in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse earlier this month.
Haydock Sandy Lane Stakes 2026.
Venetian Sun announced herself among Europe’s leading juvenile sprinters when landing the Prix Morny at Deauville last summer, but her first outing of the current campaign saw her finish 11th of 18 runners in the Classic at Newmarket after failing to see out the trip.
Speaking during a media call hosted by The Jockey Club, Burke insisted the Guineas effort had done little to dent his confidence in the filly.
“She definitely didn’t stay in the Guineas,” Burke said. “I’m not saying she’d have won at seven furlongs, but she’s come out of the race in great shape and I’m very happy with her.”
Saturday’s contest at Haydock Park is expected to be run on drying ground, with conditions forecast to ease from soft to good to soft by race time. Burke believes that surface should suit his filly ideally.
“Every time Clifford Lee got off her last season, he said the ground was too quick,” he explained. “She was feeling the ground even when she was winning. I wouldn’t want real deep ground for her, but hopefully good to soft should be perfect.”
The trainer admitted recent work at home had convinced him Venetian Sun’s future may lie firmly in sprinting rather than over longer distances.
“One day we worked her over five furlongs with Beautiful Diamond,” Burke recalled. “I thought she might struggle to go with her, but it was the other way round. That probably should have told me we had a speed horse rather than a miler. She’s a very quick filly.”
Despite the Newmarket defeat, Burke remains adamant the filly retains the class that made her one of last season’s standout juveniles.
“I have 100 per cent faith in her,” he said. “Her work at home has shown us that she’s still got plenty of ability. She has strengthened and still looks a powerful filly.”
The Haydock Sandy Lane Stakes has often proved an important stepping stone towards the top sprint races later in the season, and Venetian Sun’s return to six furlongs is likely to attract significant attention from racing followers on Saturday afternoon.
Burke is also preparing a strong challenge in the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock, with both Night Raider and Beautiful Diamond among the possible runners.
Night Raider arrives after a successful return in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket, although Burke admitted drying ground remains important to the colt’s participation.
“He’s in good form,” Burke said. “But I wouldn’t want the ground too soft for him. As long as it keeps drying, good to soft should be fine.”
Beautiful Diamond, meanwhile, is expected to line up despite her disappointing latest run in France, which Burke attributed to a troubled start.
“She slipped coming out of the stalls and banged her hip,” he explained. “The race was over straight away. She does need soft ground and I would say she’s a definite runner.”
Away from Saturday’s feature races, Burke reflected positively on another productive campaign for the stable. Having sent out a career-best 134 winners last year, the yard has already passed the £1 million mark in prize money this season.
“It’s fantastic,” Burke said. “A lot has to go right in this game, but hopefully we can get to 100 winners again and maybe even improve on last year.”
The trainer also paid tribute to stable jockey Clifford Lee, who returned to riding earlier this spring after recovering from a serious spinal injury suffered in a motorbike accident last autumn.
“It was a very nasty injury,” Burke said. “The surgeon said he was a millimetre away from killing himself. To come back as quickly as he has is remarkable.”
Lee is expected to ride at Haydock on Saturday instead of travelling to Ireland for the Irish 2000 Guineas, a decision Burke fully supported given the strength of the stable’s hand on Merseyside.
With Venetian Sun returning to her preferred trip, Burke will hope Haydock Park once again provides a happy hunting ground for one of the season’s most naturally gifted sprint fillies.
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