Venetian Sun and Quisisana Shine on Sunday at Deauville

The filly defeated the colts in the G1 Prix Morny, while the mare scored a big win in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet

Venetian Sun Pulls Off a Win Over Gstaad in the Prix Morny / FRANCE-GALLOP

DEAUVILLE, Francia (Special for Turf Diario).- Deauville staged a turf afternoon this Sunday that will be hard to forget. Two races, two distinct stories, one shared stage of glory. Venetian Sun, the lone filly on the course, delivered on all expectations by taking the Sumbe Prix Morny (G1), the summer’s premier two-year-old contest. Hours later, Quisisana produced a masterful performance to capture the Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet (G1), further cementing Haras de la Pérelle’s reputation for excellence.

At just two years old, Venetian Sun already showed her potential as a champion. Facing colts in the Prix Morny, the Starman filly, trained by Karl Burke, powered home over 1200 meters in 1:08.39 on a lightning-fast surface that even concerned her trainer.

The race was decided in the final 300 meters. With the pacesetter Coppull (Bated Breath) spent and Outfielder(Speightstown) attempting a late move along the rail, Venetian Sun delivered from the outside: strong, light, and confident, holding off Gstaad (Starspangledbanner), Aidan O’Brien’s charge, by a half-neck, with Wise Approach(Mehmas) completing the trifecta a half-length further back.

“It’s incredible—she makes it look so easy, as if she hadn’t run at all,” said a delighted Burke, notching another G1 victory in France. “I think we still haven’t seen her ceiling. Her temperament is perfect, and we’ll see further improvement with a bit more give in the ground. Next stop is the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) in Ireland, where we’ll know if we have a classic filly on our hands.”

For jockey Clifford Lee, the win had a special flavor: it was his first G1 triumph. From a family outside racing and trained at Newmarket, Lee found a mentor in Burke. “I compare him to a new Pat Eddery,” the trainer joked. The future of both, and of Venetian Sun, looks just beginning.

Quisisana, in the Romanet

While Venetian Sun showcased the future, Quisisana confirmed the present. In the Prix Jean Romanet (G1), the Le Havre filly asserted herself over 2000 meters, delivering another moment of glory for Haras de la Pérelle. Settled in the second group with Christophe Soumillon in command, Quisisana waited for her moment, unleashing an unstoppable turn of foot in the stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Survie (Churchill), with Grand Stars (Sea the Stars) a nose further back in third.

Trainer Francis Graffard described the victory as particularly meaningful: “I always believed in her. Last year I was convinced she would win this race, but physical issues held her back. I asked the owner to keep her in training, and today she has rewarded us in spades. There’s still more to come.”

Founded in 1995 by German businessman Jürgen Winter, Haras de la Pérelle follows a clear philosophy: few mares, but of the highest quality, bred to elite stallions. The results speak for themselves—names like Giofra (Dansili), High Jinx (High Chaparral), Mille et Mille (Muhtathir), Reggane (Red Ransom), and Simca Mille (Tamayuz) are part of their legacy. Now Quisisana joins the list, with potential targets including the Prix de l’Opéra (G1) and even, perhaps, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1).

With Venetian Sun emerging as one of her generation’s brightest prospects and Quisisana consolidating her place among Europe’s top mares, Deauville once again became the epicenter of European racing. Two races, two stars, one conclusion: the future of European turf is being written with names of its own.