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Sumbe Prix Morny and Sumbe Pri Jean Romanet

Sunday, August 24, 2025 - 18:22

France Galop
Flat
After the races
Meeting de Deauville Barrière

SUMBE PRIX MORNY AND SUMBE PRIX JEAN ROMANET

SUMBE PRIX MORNY : 

Venetian Sun

A first Group 1 for jockey Clifford Lee!

The English filly Venetian Sun was the only filly in the field for Sunday’s Sumbe Prix Morny (Group 1) at Deauville… and she proved dominant in the summer’s most prestigious race for two-year-olds.

The pace was set by Coppull. The field gradually shifted towards the center of the track under his impetus, seeking the best ground. But Coppull quickly gave way, while the American colt Outfielder attacked on the rail, only to reveal a lack of fitness to truly contend. Victory ultimately came down to the three horses on the outside. And it was Venetian Sun—a magnificent, powerful filly—who prevailed.

She brings yet another French Group 1 to trainer Karl Burke, following the successes of:

  • Laurens: Prix de Diane Longines, Prix de l’Opéra Longines, Prix Rothschild, Prix Saint-Alary
  • Fallen Angel: Prix Rothschild
  • Unfortunately: Prix Morny
  • Odeliz: Prix Jean Romanet
  • Lord Shanakill: Prix Jean Prat

It is also the very first Group 1 victory (worldwide) for jockey Clifford Lee.

Raised in Sidcup, Kent, by a cleaner and a handyman, Clifford Lee did not come from a racing background. His passion for horses was inspired by his uncle Ted Baker, an affiliated showjumper, who taught him to ride in exchange for help with the horses. In his youth, Lee also boxed, becoming a four-time regional champion. He attended the racing school in Newmarket, where he learned the basics of the sport. After two years with trainer Ed Walker, during which he managed just two wins, his career turned around when he became Karl Burke’s stable jockey at Middleham. His mentor has even compared him to a “new Pat Eddery”!

Until Sunday, his ultimate goal had been a Group 1 victory—his best effort so far being a close second with White Lavender in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp two years ago. Now, the dream has become reality.

In 2025, Clifford Lee is enjoying his best strike rate to date (17%, 68 wins from 406 rides). He looks set to easily surpass his career-high 84 wins achieved in 2024.

Official result

SUMBE PRIX MORNY

1st VENETIAN SUN (Clifford LEE)

2nd  GSTAAD (Ryan-Lee MOORE)

3rd WISE APPROACH (William BUICK)

Time : 1’08’’39. Margins :  Short Neck. – 1/2 – 2.

Quotes 

Karl Burke, trainer of Venetian Sun (1st) – England 

“She’s incredible—she does everything so effortlessly. Even looking at her now, she’s barely blowing. It’s as if she had just been out in the paddock! I’ve been saying for a while that she’s an exceptional filly, and I think she proved that today. Early in the year, she was clearly ahead of the others in training. But a month ago, I told the owners the others were starting to catch up a little. They’ve closed the gap somewhat, but she still has so much quality. I think she’ll be even better with some ease in the ground.

I was very worried walking the track before the race: it was the fastest ground I’ve ever seen here at Deauville—and I’ve been coming for many years! That shook my confidence a little. But she’s only going to improve further, I’m convinced. The next step will be the Moyglare Stud Stakes, all being well. Then we’ll decide where she goes.

We don’t yet know her ceiling. I think the Moyglare will tell us if she’s a Classic filly. Clifford and I both believe she’ll stay further, but she still has to prove it. Her temperament is outstanding. We were a little worried before the race—she was still sleeping while being saddled, and even walking in the parade ring. But then her ears pricked as she entered the paddock, which reassured me: she was waking up.

I’ve been lucky enough to train champion fillies like Laurens and Fallen Angel. But at this stage of her career, she’s already ahead of where they were.”

 
Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Gstaad (2nd) – Ireland

“He ran a great race, we’re delighted. He hadn’t raced for quite a while, so we’re thrilled. Looking ahead, the National Stakes is the plan… and the 1,400 meters will suit him perfectly.”

SUMBE PRIX JEAN ROMANET : 

Quisisana

Quisisana shines for Haras de la Pérelle
in the Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet

In the straight of the Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet, there was only one mare to be seen: Quisisana! The five-year-old, bred and owned by Haras de la Perelle (Jürgen Winter), trained by Francis Graffard and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, left her rivals no chance. After waiting patiently in a second rank towards the outside, she put pressure on the pacesetter Cankoura at the entrance of the straight and strode away to win like a true champion.

Behind her, Survie (2nd) finished strongly to snatch second place by the narrowest of noses from Grand Stars (3rd).

Quisisana was bred at Haras de la Perelle, which is also her owner. Located south of Deauville, this Norman stud was founded in 1995 by German businessman Jürgen Winter. Today, the farm covers 100 hectares. Alongside the main house and its traditional courtyard, the property features several American-style barns. In total, Haras de la Perelle – its name meaning “pebbles” – houses more than 80 boxes. The breeding philosophy of this Baden-Baden entrepreneur is simple yet brilliant: “A limited number of high-quality mares paired with top-class stallions.”

This strategy has already produced major racetrack success, thanks to Cladocera, Gentlewave, Giofra, High Jinx, Mille et Mille and Reggane. Haras de la Perelle breeds for its own silks but also operates commercially, regularly presenting top-class yearlings at the sales.

Group 1 winners bred by La Perelle :

Gentlewave (Monsun – Saumareine)

  • Winner: Italian Derby (Gr. 1), Prix Noailles (Gr. 2)
  • Placed: 2nd Irish Derby (Gr. 1)

Giofra (Dansili – Gracefully)

  • Winner: Falmouth Stakes (Gr. 1), Prix d’Harcourt (Gr. 2)
  • Placed: 2nd Prix Ganay (Gr. 1), 2nd Hong Kong Cup (Gr. 1), 3rd Prix de l’Opéra (Gr. 1), 3rd Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Gr. 1), 3rd Falmouth Stakes (Gr. 1)

High Jinx (High Chaparral – Leonara)

  • Winner: Prix du Cadran (Gr. 1)
  • Placed: 2nd Prix Royal-Oak (Gr. 1), 2nd Prix du Cadran (Gr. 1)

Mille Et Mille (Muhtathir – Quezon Sun)

  • Winner: Prix du Cadran (Gr. 1)
  • Placed: 3rd Prix Royal-Oak (Gr. 1), 4th Ascot Gold Cup (Gr. 1), 4th Prix Royal-Oak (Gr. 1)

Reggane (Red Ransom – Reine Zao)

  • Winner: E. P. Taylor Stakes (Gr. 1)
  • Placed: 2nd Coronation Stakes (Gr. 1)

Simca Mille (Tamayuz – Swertia)

  • Winner: Großer Preis von Berlin (Gr. 1), Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr. 2), Prix d’Harcourt (Gr. 2), Prix Niel (Gr. 3), Prix du Lys (Gr. 3)
  • Placed: 2nd Prix Ganay (Gr. 1), 2nd Grand Prix de Paris (Gr. 1)

… and now Quisisana!

Official result

SUMBE PRIX JEAN ROMANET

1st QUISISANA (Christophe SOUMILLON)

2nd  SURVIE (Stéphane PASQUIER)

3rd GRAND STARS (Maxime GUYON)

Time : 2’05’’73. Margins :  1 1/4 – Nose – 1/2.

Quotes

Francis Graffard, trainer of Quisisana (1st) – Chantilly

“She’s a mare I’ve always adored. I’ve had to make many tough phone calls to her owner, each time with a broken heart. Last year, I was convinced she would win this race, but small setbacks kept interrupting her season. It was very frustrating. I really urged Mr. Winter to keep her in training. I always believed we hadn’t yet seen what she truly deserved.

This year has been similar. She won a Listed earlier this season, and I focused everything on this Group 1. She’s a really good mare. Her jockey said there’s still more to come, and I think the field was decent. She’s a strong mare and will have no problem with 2,400 meters.

I don’t think soft ground will bother her. The only concern is keeping her sound—so we cross our fingers every day. I’m very happy for Mr. Winter. He’s a passionate man with an incredible breeding operation. Despite my difficult calls, he always supported me, always trusted me.

She isn’t entered in the Arc but in the Opéra. Still, she’s earned her ticket for the Arc… anyway, my other horses aren’t allowed to run it (laughs)!”

Nicolas Clément, co-trainer of Survie (2nd) – Chantilly

“She ran like a champion! She has a huge heart and gives everything. Unfortunately, her draw worked against us, and we were a little too far back early on. I looked at the sectionals, and Survie was the one finishing fastest. I think she’ll need more distance. We’ll discuss it with her connections, as several options are on the table: the Royallieu, the Arc de Triomphe, or the Opéra. The real question mark is the Vermeille in two weeks. I’m disappointed that the program is structured like this, with the Pomone and the Romanet so close to the Vermeille...”

Gérald Mossé, trainer of Grand Stars (3rd) – Chantilly

“She’s had a truly splendid career. She’s a mare I really love—after all, she gave me my first win. And she continues to confirm, as time goes on, that she has real talent. She’s the best horse in my stable, and she shows it every day. That gives me great joy.

Ideally, I think the next target should be the Opéra. And probably, for the end of her career, I have a particular race in mind: the E. P. Taylor Stakes in Canada, restricted to fillies and mares over 2,000 meters. It’s a race I’ve won twice as a jockey, I know the profile well, and I think it would suit her perfectly...”