By Tom Frary
Lining up in a stellar renewal of Deauville's G1 Sumbe Prix Morny as the sole filly, Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's Venetian Sun (Starman) did what she has been doing so well to her own sex in 2025 and got the job done. Tracking the strong pace travelling kindly under Clifford Lee, the 29-10 second favourite edged ahead passing the furlong pole and after outstaying Wise Approach (Mehmas) found the line a short neck ahead of the 11-10 favourite Gstaad (Starspangledbanner).
“She does everything so relaxed and has a temperament to die for–she was asleep when I saddled her and only pricked her ears going into the main paddock, which gave me some hope she was waking up,” trainer Karl Burke said of the winner, who now has the complete Group 1/2/3 set having captured the Albany and Duchess of Cambridge.
“I've been saying for a little while that she's a special filly and she's proven that today. She has so much ability, but I was very worried about the ground, it's as quick as I've seen it at Deauville and I've been coming here for a few years,” he added. “She'll be better on easier ground and over an extra furlong, so all being well the Moyglare will be next. I would be amazed if she doesn't get the seven furlongs well and to be honest I've always thought she would be better over seven.”
This renewal, widely considered the best in recent times, was partly shaped by the slow break of Outfielder (Speightstown) after the US raider had been removed from the stalls and re-loaded, and the keenness of Coppull (Bated Breath) alongside him on the front end. The first three home were all able to draft and race economically, with the winner ticking off successive sub-11-second splits so readily and key to her success was the fact that she was quicker and stronger than the two colts that challenged her late on.
Burke is in no doubt as to the winner's status. “I've had some good fillies like Quiet Reflection, Laurens and Fallen Angel, but at this stage she's way ahead of them,” he said. “She's doing things on the gallops at home that a two-year-old filly should not be doing and then she goes and keeps winning as well. We don't yet know her ceiling. I think the Moyglare will tell us if she's a Classic filly.”
Aidan O'Brien is looking at seven furlongs for the Coventry winner now. “He ran a great race, we're delighted. He hadn't raced for quite a while, so we're thrilled,” he said. “Looking ahead, the National Stakes is the plan and the seven furlongs will suit him perfectly.”
Charlie Appleby said of Wise Approach, “His preference is for quick ground and I'm sure he would go to the Middle Park Stakes if conditions were suitable. If not, we might contemplate the Breeders' Cup.”
VENETIAN SUN WINS THE GROUP ONE PRIX MORNY! 🏆🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/uiKPXC4Y3Q
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 24, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Venetian Sun's dual Listed-placed dam Johara (Iffraaj), who is also responsible for Mehmas's Listed Roses Stakes third Sir Yoshi, is a granddaughter of the G3 Prix des Reservoirs winner and G1 Prix Saint-Alary third Summertime Legacy (Darshaan). She produced the Group 1 winners Mandaean (Manduro) and Wavering (Refuse To Bend) and New Approach's G1 Fillies' Mile third Winters Moon, who is in turn the dam of the Middle Park-winning half-siblings Shadow Of Light and Earthlight. Johara's yearling filly by Kodiac is due to sell at the upcoming Tattersalls October Book 1, while she also has a filly foal by Cotai Glory.
Sunday, Deauville, France
SUMBE PRIX MORNY-G1, €350,000, Deauville, 8-24, 2yo, c/f, 6fT, 1:08.39, gd.
1–VENETIAN SUN (IRE), 122, f, 2, by Starman (GB)
1st Dam: Johara (Ire) (MSP-Fr), by Iffraaj (GB)
2nd Dam: Hurricane Irene (Ire), by Green Desert
3rd Dam: Summertime Legacy (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (240,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Tony Bloom & Ian McAleavy; B-Tally-Ho Stud; T-Karl Burke; J-Clifford Lee. €199,990. Lifetime Record: MGSW-Eng, 4-4-0-0, €379,925. *1/2 to Sir Yoshi (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gstaad (GB), 126, c, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Mosa Mine (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (450,000gns Wlg '23 TADEWE). O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Maywood Stud; T-Aidan O'Brien. €80,010.
3–Wise Approach (Ire), 126, c, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Sagely (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (1,000,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Tally-Ho Stud; T-Charlie Appleby. €40,005.
Margins: SNK, HF, 2. Odds: 2.90, 2.10, 6.80.
Also Ran: Outfielder, Coppull (GB), Imperial Me Cen (Ire).
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