Venetian Sun shone like a ray of sunshine over Royal Ascot on Friday, as this talented filly claimed the Group One Commonwealth Cup for Brighton chairman Tony Bloom. The £250,000 acquisition had already hinted at its potential, but few would have predicted this gutsy three-year-old would deliver a thrilling win by a head from 50-1 outsider Spicy Marg in a battle that went down to the wire.
Bloom's mastery of spotting talent is well-documented in football, where he's splashed out on gems like Alexis Mac Allister (£7m) and Moisés Caicedo (£4m), but his success story at Ascot is just as impressive. The chairman's analytical approach to bloodstock, combined with expert advice, has allowed him to punch above his weight in the world of racing, often competing against much bigger-spending operations.
Co-owner Bloom was over the moon after the win, hailing Venetian Sun as "a dream horse" and praising trainer Karl Burke's faith in her ability. Despite the filly not staying the distance in the 1,000 Guineas, she showed remarkable resilience to seal a victory that will see her prize money earnings soar past £800,000 – an incredible return on Bloom's initial investment.
The win has also sparked excitement among bookmakers, with William Hill shortening Venetian Sun's odds from 5-1 to 7-2 for the July Cup at Newmarket next month. Trainer Karl Burke, though, was more relieved than jubilant, suggesting the firmer ground at Ascot made the victory a tougher grind compared to her visually impressive performance on easier turf at Haydock.
Elsewhere at Royal Ascot, punters saw another favourite deliver as Aidan O'Brien-trained Precise, ridden by Ryan Moore, took the Coronation Stakes in convincing fashion. The 8-13 favourite led home a strong challenge from Touleen to mark the fifth winning favourite in seven Group One events at the festival so far – a timely reminder that favouriteitis may not be as prevalent as some might think.