Willie Carson has put himself firmly in the Venetian Sun camp ahead of the Commonwealth Cup, comparing her to the mighty Dayjur.
The Hall-of-Fame former jockey and rider of 56 Royal Ascot winners was blown away by Karl Burke’s filly in her win at Haydock.
And Carson could not hide the high regard he holds her in, talking about her in the same breath as Dick Hern’s legendary sprinter.
Venetian Sun the horse to beat
Speaking to Horse.Bet when previewing some of Royal Ascot’s big races, Carson said: “In the Commonwealth Cup, I cannot see past Venetian Sun.
“That Haydock win, in the Sandy Lane, totally blew me away. That was unreal. You don’t see horses win races of that quality very often.
“She’s got to go and win her race today, but the way she did it at Haydock reminded me of Dayjur.
“After watching the Haydock run, it just made me feel like I was watching Dayjur again. He was the fastest horse I ever rode and possibly the fastest horse anyone’s ever ridden.
“Venetian Sun’s got a way to go before she gets up to Dayjur’s level, of course, but watching her at Haydock took me right back to those days.
“They don’t make many like Dayjur anymore, but Venetian Sun might just be cut from a similar cloth.”
Of the other big races still to come at this year’s Royal Ascot meeting, Carson nailed his colours to the mast: “Precise looked like she really improved for the Newmarket Guineas with how she won in Ireland.
“I’d say she’ll be hard to beat in the Coronation, but keep an eye on Touleen as I think she could come on again from that run in the Guineas.
“Joliestar looks tough to oppose in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee.
“These Aussie sprinters are different class, and when you look at who they’ve run against, the likes of Ka Ying Rising, who’s the best sprinter in the world, the Europeans are surely going to struggle.”
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