The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Last seen winning the Group II Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, the Aidan O’Brien trained Gstaad went off as favourite with Ryan Moore in the saddle.
The top fancies settled off the pace and let down at the business end of the race with a great battle to the line giving the Karl Burke trained daughter of Starman victory by a short neck with the Godolphin runner wise Approach a close third.
Venetian Sun has now had four wins from four starts and will chase another G1 next, while Starspangledbanner colt Gstaad will also be headed out of this race into G1 class for the National Stakes back in Ireland.
“Venetian Sun is unbelievable, she does everything so relaxed. I've been saying for a little while that she's a special filly and she's proved it there,” said Karl Burke.
“Early on in the year she stood out in the string and I said to her owners a month ago, she doesn't quite stand out as much and the others have caught her up a little bit, but she's still got so much ability.
“She'll be better over an extra furlong as well, I'm convinced of that, so we'll go for the Moyglare (G1) next and see where we go from there. It will tell us if she's a Classic filly but she's got to prove it. She's got a temperament to die for.”
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 20 winners so far with Venetian Sun his first G1 winner among four stakes-winners joining and Green Sense, Lady Iman and North Coast.
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.
Starspangledbanner featured at Goodwood where the Aidan O’Brien trained two year-old filly Precise won the Group III Prestige Fillies Stakes (7f).
Ridden by Wayne Lordan, Precise scored a three-quarter length win over race favourite Moon Target (Cracksman) with St Mark’s Basilica filly Aylin a close up third.
A homebred for the Coolmore partners, Precise has two wins and a second from three starts and is the first stakes-winner among three winners from placed Galileo mare Way to My Heart, a sister to stakes-winner Kingfisher from stakes-winner Mystical Lady.
Precise is the 55th stakes-winner for Starspangledbanner, who remained at Coolmore Ireland this year where he stood for €45,000 this year.
