Venetian Sun setting the standard in Duchess of Cambridge

Powys County Times

10-07-2025

Karl Burke's Venetian Sun seeks to add a third win to her flawless record in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.
The Starman filly has always been held in the highest regard since her purchase for 240,000 guineas as a yearling and has not disappointed so far, winning her debut at Carlisle in May and then claiming the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in good style.
She remains at the same six-furlong trip on the July course, but is raised marginally in grade as she takes on a Group Two task under regular rider Clifford Lee.
Burke said: 'It wasn't originally in the planning to run here, but it's a Group Two and a step forward and to get that Group Two on the CV for her as a broodmare later on is very important.
'It looks a race that she can win and she worked very nicely last week. We obviously haven't done a lot with her since Ascot, but she had her first little piece of work since last week and did it well.
'We don't need to be pushing any buttons with her now, we know exactly where we are with her.'
Michael Bell's Spicy Marg steps up to six furlongs, having last been seen finishing unplaced in the five-furlong Queen Mary at the Royal meeting.
Prior to that she was an impressive winner on debut, however, and the race will determine at which level she is campaigned in the future.
'This race decides if she's geared towards something like the Cheveley Park or we lower our sights, but she looks classy at home and it's up to her to show us,' said Bell.
'We've seen glimpses of it on debut in a very good time and she ran a perfectly respectable race at Ascot.
'Given we think there's a couple of reasons for underperforming we'd be hopeful for an improved performance.'
Ed Walker's Royal Fixation will be ridden by William Buick on her second start, with her debut a pleasing one-length victory at Thirsk last month.
'She's got stacks of speed and we think she's very nice,' the trainer said.
'It's a very strong race, but she's in good form and this has been the plan since she won.
'I'm sure she'll improve for that run and I guess the only thing is she barely came off the bridle.
'She will have to come off it this time and she might be like lots of mine and still be very green off the bridle, but I expect whatever we see on Friday we will then see better again in the future.'
Elsewhere in the race is Tim Easterby's Argentine Tango, winner of both the Hilary Needler and the Empress Stakes, and Archie Watson's Shine On Me, who was sixth in the Queen Mary.