Eve Johnson Houghton has issued an upbeat bulletin on her stable star Zavateri (Without Parole) ahead of his eagerly anticipated return in the G1 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, where the likes of Bow Echo and Gstaad will be the Group 1-winning juvenile's chief rivals.
Zavateri has been off the track since finishing second in the Greenham Stakes at the beginning of the season but, despite his lack of match practice, Johnson Houghton says she “couldn't be happier” with the colt ahead of Goodwood.
“He's got one more good bit (of work) to do and then we'll be ready to rock and roll,” the trainer said. “He's already had a racecourse gallop and I couldn't have been happier with him, he had a real nice blow, nothing excessive but he needed it. He's come on a ton for it and one more good go should have him spot on.”
Johnson Houghton has always held unwavering belief in the son of Without Parole, who went over to Ireland to scoop top honours last term and was unbeaten up until his final start at two when a commendable fourth in the Dewhurst.
The trainer is now relishing the opportunity of taking on the best milers of their generation at Goodwood. And she's not running scared, either.
She added, “Bring them on! They've walked their walk and now we've got to walk the walk and it's down to us to have a go and give them something to think about.
“Races like this are what it is all about and we're here for. I looked at the St James's Palace Stakes and thought we would definitely have been in the fight. I don't know if we would have won it, but we would have been there fighting and Zavateri loves a scrap.
“His run in the Greenham was really good and it was unfortunate we had the hiccup, but he is back feeling great and moving great and I couldn't be happier with him.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
