Avongate Venus crowned queen of Towcester after Empress win

AVONGATE VENUS confirmed her position as the leading UK bitch in training by completing an unbeaten run through the bet365 Empress Stakes over 500m at Towcester.

Trained by Phil Milner for Sean O'Connor, Avongate Venus was sent off 8-11 favourite to stretch her winning sequence to nine and, having been momentarily led out of traps by market rival New Destiny, quickly paced up on the outside to assert.

With New Destiny checking middle at the opening turn and losing a couple of places, it was Droopys Eunice who turned behind Avongate Venus but she could make no real impression despite giving it her all until markedly losing momentum on the run-in.

Ultimately, Avongate Venus went on to score by almost two lengths from a staying-on Iceman's Girl in an excellent 28.66sec with Droopys Eunice half a length away in third the same distance ahead of a rallying New Destiny.

Winning owner O'Connor said: "Absolutely fantastic. I was quite calm when she hit the front but I was always worried in case they were going to come and pick her up but she just stuck on. She keeps going and finding a bit more.

“It was a fantastic run, absolutely beautiful.”