Albany Stakes |
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| (Fillies' Group 3) Ascot 14:30 £125,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1  |
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1 Venetian Sun 7/1
2 Awaken 66/1
3 Balantina 40/1
17 ran Distances: 1½l, 1l, ½l
Time: 1m 12.87s (slow by 0.37s)
VENETIAN SUN WINS THE ALBANY STAKES! #ROYALASCOT pic.twitter.com/SGr3CzUPNC
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2025
If you didn’t know her name before the Albany, you certainly do now. Venetian Sun, already on the radar of sharp judges after a taking debut at Carlisle, confirmed herself a filly of serious potential—and quite possibly the leading light in next year’s 1,000 Guineas picture—with a commanding victory here.
Under clear blue skies and in front of a packed Friday crowd, the daughter of Starman, sporting the blue and white silks of Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy, travelled powerfully up the far side, before lengthening clear in the final furlong to score with a degree of authority rarely seen in juvenile company at this meeting. It was a performance of poise and polish from a filly who looks to have an engine to match her reputation.
The form, if not the market, had a scattergun look to it behind, as 66/1 outsider Awaken came with a rattle for second, just ahead of Balantina at 40/1. But the quality was all up front.
Her trainer Karl Burke—no stranger to nurturing classy fillies—was uncharacteristically effusive in the aftermath.
“I think Venetian Sun is very, very special,” he said, eyes wide with belief. “The way she’s been working—frankly, I haven’t seen a two-year-old filly do that on my gallops. She’s brushed aside horses rated 110. That doesn’t happen by accident.”
Indeed, Burke has made a habit of introducing good ones at Carlisle, and Venetian Sun was no exception, winning with something in hand last month despite greenness. That run was the spark; today, she caught fire.
Cliff Lee, who has been in the saddle for both her starts, spoke with the quiet confidence of a man who knew what he had.
“She was still learning on debut. Very babyish that day, but she’s grown up fast. James, who rides her every day, said before the season she was the best we had. And he was right. Today was her graduation.”
For Tony Bloom, whose betting acumen has long extended into racing ownership, the result was more confirmation than surprise:
“We were a bit worried about the draw in 1, but Karl’s belief in her was unwavering. She’s just improved so much since that debut—it’s been clear to see. Watching her today, I think she’ll stay further too. She’s just classy.”
Co-owner Ian McAleavy echoed the sentiment.
“Karl said she might be the best two-year-old filly he’s trained. We were confident, but this was still a huge ask—and she answered every question.”
There were gallant efforts in behind from two rank outsiders. George Boughey’s Awaken, though 66/1 on the boards, ran as though she hadn’t read the script.
“She’s still learning,” said Boughey. “But she’s got ability. We knew that, and it’s great for Highclere to have a live one again.”
Tom Marquand, aboard third-placed Balantina, praised his filly’s effort after a tardy start:
“She’s still figuring things out, but she stayed on strongly. It was a big run from where she was.”
But this was Venetian Sun’s day. A filly who lit up the track, and perhaps more importantly, illuminated the road ahead. The 1,000 Guineas now looms as a realistic target. From Carlisle to the Curragh or Newmarket, her rise has been rapid—and radiant.
The sun may have been shining on Ascot, but the brightest light of all might just have been wearing the silks of a man who knows a thing or two about finding value—and winning.
Albany Stakes
£125,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
17 ran
Going: Good to Firm
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1) 1 Venetian Sun 2 9-2 K R Burke Clifford Lee 7/1
2 (3) 1½ Awaken 2 9-2 George Boughey Billy Loughnane 66/1
3 (4) 1 Balantina 2 9-2 Donnacha O'Brien Tom Marquand 40/1
4 (13) ½ Fitzella 2 9-2 Hugo Palmer Oisin Murphy 4/1
5 (10) shd Fairy Oak 2 9-2 M D O'Callaghan Colin Keane 66/1
6 (14) 1¼ Gold Digger 2 9-2 Richard Spencer Jamie Spencer 7/1
7 (2) 1¼ Nandita 2 9-2 John & Thady Gosden William Buick 33/1
8 (6) ¾ Bibi Dahl 2 9-2 Jorge Delgado Rossa Ryan 66/1
9 (11) shd Signora 2 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 15/8F
10 (15) 1 Senorita Vega 2 9-2 Tom Dascombe Richard Kingscote 125/1
11 (17) hd Ipanema Queen 2 9-2 Adrian Murray David Egan 10/1
12 (7) ¾ Spinning Lizzie 2 9-2 Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole Kieran Shoemark 100/1
13 (8) 1¾ Green Sense 2 9-2 Joseph O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 9/2
14 (16) 2 Magny Cours 2 9-2 Daniel McLoughlin Mickael Barzalona 125/1
15 (12) 1¾ Indigo Dawn 2 9-2 Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs 80/1
16 (5) 6½ Oh Cecelia 2 9-2 Jack W Davison James Ryan 50/1
17 (9) 5 Tahalel 2 9-2 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 33/1
ALBANY STAKES WINNERS
YR/DATE GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP
2024 3 FAIRY GODMOTHER Aidan O'Brien IRE Ryan Moore M Tabor, D Smith, & Mrs S Magnier 2-9-02 15/8F
2023 3 PORTA FORTUNA Donnacha O'Brien Frankie Dettori Medallion/S Weston/B Fowler/Reeves T'Bs 2 9-02 5/1
2022 3 MEDITATE A P O'Brien Ryan Moore M Tabor & D Smith & Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg 2 9-02 5/2
2021 3 SANDRINE Andrew Balding David Probert Miss K Rausing 2 9-00 16/1
2020 3 DANDALLA Karl Burke Ben Curtis Nick Bradley Racing 28 & Elaine Burke 2-9-00 13/2
2019 3 DAAHYEH Roger Varian David Egan HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa 2-9-00 4/1F
2018 3 MAIN EDITION Mark Johnston James Doyle Saif Ali 2-9-00 7/1
2017 3 DIFFERENT LEAGUE Mauthieu Palussiere FR Antoine Hamelin Theresa Marnane 2-9-00 20/1
2016 3 BRAVE ANNA Aidan O’Brien IRE Seamie Heffernan Evie Stockwell 2-9-00 16/1
2015 3 ILLUMINATE Richard Hannon Richard Hughes Denford Stud 2-9-00 4/1F
2014 3 CURSORY GLANCE Roger Varian Andrea Atzeni Merry Fox Stud Limited 2-9-00 14/1
2013 3 KIYOSHI Charlie Hills Jamie Spencer Qatar Racing Limited 2-8-12 8/1
2012 3 NEWFANGLED John Gosden William Buick HRH Princess Haya of Jordan 2-8-12 7/4F
2011 3 SAMITAR Mick Channon Jamie Spencer Nick & Olga Dhandsa/John & Zoe Webster 2-8-12 16/1
2010 3 MEMORY Richard Hannon snr Richard Hughes Highclere Thoroughbred Racing 2-8-12 15/2
2009 3 HABAAYIB Ed Dunlop Richard Hills Hamdan Al Maktoum 2-8-12 16/1
2008 3 CUIS GHAIRE Jim Bolger IRE Kevin Manning Jackie Bolger & Harry Dobson 2-8-12 8/11F
2007 3 NIJOOM DUBAI Mick Channon Jamie Spencer Jaber Abdullah 2-8-12 50/1
2006 3 SANDER CAMILLO Jeremy Noseda Frankie Dettori Sir Robert Ogden 2-8-12 4/1F
*2005 3 LA CHUNGA Jeremy Noseda Jamie Spencer Sir Robert Ogden 2-8-09 10/1
2004 L JEWEL IN THE SAND Richard Hannon snr Richard Hughes Sand Associates 2-8-11 10/1
2003 L SILCA’S GIFT Mick Channon Steve Drowne Aldridge Racing Ltd 2-8-11 5/1
2002 L DUTY PAID David Elsworth Richard Quinn Jeff Smith 2-8-11 11/1
*run at York
