By Tom Frary
Significantly delayed by the discovery of a drainage hole in the home straight, Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane Stakes eventually played out with a compensatory dazzling performance from the high-class Venetian Sun (Starman).
Reverting to six furlongs after failed efforts over further in the Moyglare and the 1,000 Guineas, Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's Prix Morny heroine went through this contest as if operating on a different level and only needed encouraging late on to dismiss Division (Kingman) by three lengths. Spicy Marg (Starspangledbanner) was another 1 1/2 lengths away in third.
Trainer Karl Burke was watching at The Curragh and said, “I've only just seen the quick replay there, but that looked super impressive. I told Cliff to be confident, but I thought he was being over-confident and was a length further back than ideal. He gave her a peach of a ride.”
“He sat still to the furlong marker and I don't think he even used the stick,” he added. “I stupidly should have worked out sprinting was her game after working her with Beautiful Diamond just before the Guineas and she couldn't go with her and she's a proven Group-class sprinter. She's just a gifted filly and will go straight to the Commonwealth Cup.”
While one of her main rivals Coppull (Bated Breath) was withdrawn due to the state of the ground on the inner track as track officials improvised, this was still very much the most visually impressive expression of sprinting class seen among the three-year-olds so far in 2026. It is probably an upgrade on her Albany and Duchess of Cambridge wins and possibly even her defeat of Gstaad in the Deauville feature, the form of which played out particularly well on this afternoon.
Clifford Lee was in inspired form both in this and the following Temple Stakes and gave the lowdown on the filly that prompted him to reject the opportunity of a Classic ride on Alparslan across the Irish Sea. “I made the right call,” he said. “She is a very good filly–Division nicked a length out of me, but when I came back upsides it was easy enough. I'm glad she is back winning over six furlongs.”
Venetian Sun 🤌
All class in the @willhillracing Sandy Lane! @haydockraces pic.twitter.com/RbhDCce8rd
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 23, 2026
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 Prix Saint-Alary third Summertime Legacy (Darshaan).
She produced the Group 1 winners Mandaean (Manduro) and Wavering (Refuse To Bend) and New Approach's 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 two-year-old filly Festive Moment (Kodiac) was a 625,000gns purchase by Henry Lascelles at Tattersalls October Book 1, while she also has a yearling filly foal by Cotai Glory.
Saturday, Haydock, Britain
WILLIAM HILL SANDY LANE STAKES-G2, £165,000, Haydock, 5-23, 3yo, 6fT, 1:13.46, g/s.
1–VENETIAN SUN (IRE), 125, f, 3, 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)
(240,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Tony Bloom & Ian McAleavy; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Karl Burke; J-Clifford Lee. £93,572. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr & G1SP-Ire, 7-5-0-1, $603,511. *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–Division (GB), 128, c, 3, Kingman (GB)–Pepita (Ire), by Sir Prancealot (Ire). (800,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Rockcliffe Stud; T-William Haggas. £35,475.
3–Spicy Marg (GB), 125, f, 3, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Main Desire (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (50,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-ELB Bloodstock Ltd; B-Branton Court Stud LLP; T-Michael Bell. £17,754.
Margins: 3, 1HF, 3 1/4. Odds: 1.75, 1.88, 4.50.
Also Ran: Brussels (GB), Five Ways (GB), Rock On Thunder (Ire), Aqpan (Ire). Scratched: Coppull (GB).
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