Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes
(Sponsored by bet365)
Group 2, Newmarket 14:25
£100,000 guaranteed,
2yo Fillies only,
6f, Class 1    
Friday 12th July 2024

1 Venetian Sun 2/5F
2 Royal Fixation 14/1
3 Argentine Tango 9/1
6 ran Distances: nk, 3½l, ¾l
Time: 1m 11.58s (slow by 1.38s)

Venetian Sun extended her unbeaten run to three—but only just—as she bravely repelled a late and determined thrust from Royal Fixation to claim the Group Two.

Sent off the emphatic 2-5 favourite following her polished Albany Stakes win at Royal Ascot, the Karl Burke-trained filly cruised through the early exchanges with that familiar silky ease, always travelling well in the hands of Clifford Lee. Turning into the dip, she looked to have matters firmly in hand—Lee just nudging her forward as the others came under pressure, and for a fleeting moment, it seemed a procession might follow.

But William Buick had other ideas. Switched out and set alight a furlong from home, Royal Fixation charged down the outside, launching a withering run that briefly had Venetian Sun’s supporters glancing nervously at the big screen. The gap was closing—inch by inch—but Venetian Sun dug in, showing tenacity to match her class, and held on by a neck, the margin slender but the verdict just about decisive.

The front pair came well clear, underlining the quality of the contest, and while the final strides may have been anxious viewing for favourite backers, there was still a degree of authority in the way the winner stuck to her task.

Paddy Power kept her unchanged at 14-1 for the 1000 Guineas, but on this evidence, she’s not done improving just yet.

Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes
(Formerly The Cherry Hinton Stakes) (Fillies' Group 2)
£100,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (5)    Venetian Sun 2 9-2 K R Burke Clifford Lee 2/5F
2 (1) nk Royal Fixation 2 9-2 Ed Walker William Buick 14/1
3 (6) 3½ Argentine Tango 2 9-2 Tim Easterby David Allan 9/1
4 (2) ¾ Shine On Me 2 9-2 Archie Watson James Doyle 16/1
5 (3) ¾ Spicy Marg 2 9-2 Michael Bell Kieran Shoemark 9/1
6 (4) 4 Mood Queen 2 9-2 Richard Hughes Ryan Moore 12/1