Burke plotting Guineas routes for juvenile stars

Karl Burke is looking forward to Classic challenges with his star juveniles Venetian Sun and Hankelow, who have gone into winter quarters “stronger than ever” according to their trainer.

Venetian Sun met with her only defeat in four 2025 outings when second to Precise in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh in September.

Prior to that the daughter of Starman had taken out the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket and the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville. That form was boosted when runner-up Gstaad won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.

Burke said: “Venetian Sun got beat in Ireland, but would have finished closer to the winner had she enjoyed an uninterrupted run. It will be interesting if they meet again because our filly enjoyed two or three easy weeks before her break, and when I sent her on the lorry she had muscled up physically and looked amazing.

“I think she will definitely stay seven furlongs and probably get the mile. She will be aimed at the Guineas, but won’t run in one of the trials as they come quite close to the Classic.”

Burke’s Hankelow was only a nose from being unbeaten in three starts this year, because after scoring over seven furlongs on his debut at York in June, the Night Of Thunder colt was inched out by Avicenna in the Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster, then bounced back to make all in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket.

He added: “I know Hankelow will stay (a mile) and his target is the French Guineas or failing that the Irish Guineas.

“He impressed me with his attitude at Newmarket and in contrast to the filly, he could run in one of the trials. I think a two-week gap between a trial and a Classic is too tight, but if it’s three weeks it gives us a chance.”