If you followed Royal Ascot last month and have an interest in the big Newmarket July summer meeting unfolding at present then you would have see the major filly and mare feature winners overnight came via Royal Ascot.
The Group I Falmouth Stakes (1m) for fillies and mares saw a rematch from the Group II Duke of Cambridge Stakes with the first two there Crimson Advocate and Cinderella’s Dream set for a rematch with the added spice of top class Coolmore three year-old filly January, who was coming off a third in the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Godolphin homebred Shamardal mare Cinderella’s Dream got the win this time by half a length over the Kingman filly January with Crimson Advocate in third.
“She is knee high to a grasshopper, but is tough as teak and I am delighted for her. She's been so consistent and to win a Group One in Europe was much deserved. We will now very much work back from the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. It annoyed me when that got away from us last year so I'd like to go back and have another crack,” said Charlie Appleby.
A Group I winner of the Belmont Oaks last year at three, Cinderella’s Dream has a great strike rate with eight wins from 12 starts. She is the best of two winners from well related Dubawi mare Espadrilles, a winning sister to stakes-winner Pabouche from Group III winning High Chaparral mare High Heels.
The Group II Duke of Cambridge Stakes (6f) for two year-old fillies saw Venetian Sun keep her record at a perfect three for three. The Karl Burke trained daughter of Starman won the Group III Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and was too strong again.
She scored by a neck over Royal Fixation, a daughter of first season sire Palace Pier.
Karl Burke is looking to raise the bar for Venetian Sun.
“She is a very high-class filly. I think the Lowther (G2) would be out for her now as she has won a Group Two. She is in the Prix Morny (G1)and we'll have a look at that but we are very keen to step up to seven furlongs in the Moyglare (G1),” he said.
“Her pedigree says she is more a miler at least and a three-year-old. She's a very mature filly with a great engine. I think she can be better on better ground and over a trip. She relaxes so well in behind. I think racing against the very best horses will bring out the best in her.”
Venetian Sun was purchased for 240,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 by Todd Investments and was bred by Tally Ho Stud, who stand her sire Starman at a fee of €10,000.
A Group I winning sprinter by Dutch Art, Starman has hit the ground running with his first crop of 2YO’s producing 14 winners so far with Venetian Sun the second stakes-winner joining Lady Iman.
Venetian Sun is a half-sister to stakes-placed Sir Yoshi and is from stakes-placed Iffraaj mare Johara, who comes from a top class family that has produced Group I winning Champion 2YOs Earthlight and Shadow of Light for Godolphin.
