Venetian Sun, a bargain purchase for Brighton chairman Tony Bloom, captured the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on Friday, adding another chapter to Bloom's remarkable eye for sporting value. The filly, bought for just 240,000 guineas (£252,000), held off the late challenge of 50-1 shot Spicy Marg by a head to secure her second Group One victory.
Bloom's Bargain
While big spenders like Kia Joorabchian (£25 million) and Godolphin (£23 million) dominated the yearling sales at Tattersalls in October 2024, Bloom's modest investment in a daughter of Starman has already yielded over £800,000 in prize money. "It was a really tough race and not easy at the end," Bloom said. "But what a horse Venetian Sun is."
Bloom's success mirrors his data-driven approach in football, which has paid off at Brighton, Hearts, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Como. "I get well advised on buying the horses," he said. "Patrick Veitch is our main adviser, and he looks at so many different aspects, and you also need a lot of luck."
Race Highlights
Trainer Karl Burke expressed relief after the win, noting that Venetian Sun prefers softer ground. "That is more relief than enjoyment," Burke said. "It was probably unusual the way she did it at Haydock last time. Everybody was talking about how good it was visually, which it was, but I think the ground had a lot to do with that."
Earlier on the card, Aidan O'Brien's Precise, ridden by Ryan Moore, won the Coronation Stakes as the 8-13 favourite, holding off Saffie Osborne's mount Touleen by a length and a half. O'Brien praised the filly's tenacity, saying, "She can do a lot of stuff. She can stay at a mile, she can step up."
The King and Queen's runner, Warrant Holder, finished second in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, meaning they will wait until at least 2027 for another Royal Ascot winner.
Looking Ahead
Venetian Sun is now the favourite for the July Cup at Newmarket next month, with odds cut from 5-1 to 7-2. Bloom hinted at a bright future: "She is a dream horse to have, and we have got lots to look forward to with her."
Meanwhile, Japan's Satono Reve, second in last year's Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, will aim for victory on Saturday with Ryan Moore aboard. The seven-year-old has had a similar preparation, including a second-place finish behind Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong.
Tips for Saturday
Greg Wood's selections for Royal Ascot include Force Noir (2.30), Kalpana (3.05), and Satono Reve (3.40). Far Above Dream (5.00) and Sahara King (5.35) are also tipped for success.
