His star sprinter Venetian Sun fell just short in her bid to supplement Royal Ascot glory in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes but trainer Karl Burke left Newmarket content she has again cemented her top-class status.
The participation of the Commonwealth Cup winner had been in some doubt due to the quick going on the July course and, although connections elected to roll the dice with the six-time winner, she drifted from the position at the head of the betting she had held all week to odds of 6-1 at the off.
However, supporters who remained loyal were rewarded with a fine run for their money in defeat, as she chased down the impressive winner Comanche Brave to within a length, a performance that had Burke looking ahead to unleashing the daughter of Starman with ease in the ground later in the season.
He said: “She’s a top-class filly and proved that today and I just hope when the autumn comes we get the rain we’re not getting now.
“I don’t think we’ve ever been ground dependent and she’s raced on this ground as a two-year-old, but every time she’s been running and winning Cliff (Lee) has come in and said she feels the ground.
“The only time she has run on soft ground was in the Temple Stakes at Haydock and she showed what she could do then.”
Deauville’s Prix Maurice de Gheest could prove a next port of call for Venetian Sun if she recovers sufficiently from her Newmarket exertions, but Burke is also eyeing major assignments at Haydock, Ascot and Stateside at the Breeders’ Cup before the season ends.
Burke added: “There’s three races in the autumn, but we have to think about the French race first and if she comes out of this well then that’s a possibility.
“That’s just short of six and a half furlongs on a flat track as well so it’s a possibility and we’ll just do what is best for her.”