Zavateri strikes the right note in July Stakes success
Maximized (6-4 favourite) threatened to get involved only to drop back tamely, and as Zavateri began to pull away it was Coventry Stakes runner-up Do Or Do Not who stayed on strongly to claim second, a length away as he awaits his first win.
Zavateri wins the Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes!
The Without Parole colt dents some big reputations and is now two from two as this 35,000gns buy lands Group 2 honours in quite a result for the @johnsonhoughton team 👏 @BahrainTurfClub | @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/ze17fu4m7e
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 10, 2025
Johnson Houghton said: 'I knew he was a good horse, I wasn't sure if he was good enough to win after only one run because he's obviously very inexperienced.
'In the paddock he was like, 'oh, it's party time!'. But in the race he's so professional. I thought, 'Oh god he's going to win this', and I never had a moment's doubt really.'
Zavateri faced a significant rise in class after winning on his Salisbury debut, but his trainer was more than hopeful he would hold his own in the Group Two affair.
'The form of his first race hasn't worked out at all, but he could only beat what he beat and he's done it again,' she added.
'I wondered whether I was being a bit ballsy, but quite frankly you either come here and take on Group horses or you go to a novice where you might have to give weight to a Group horse and I thought we might as well come here and see what we've got.
'I love this horse – he's got a great attitude and just wants to please. He's a dream to train and I think he's pretty nice to ride as well.'
Zavateri is a 33-1 shot for next year's 2000 Guineas with Paddy Power. When asked whether he could stay the mile of next season's first Classic, Johnson Houghton said: 'He's bred to, but as I always tell all my owners, you've never heard of Usain Bolt's brother! What they're bred to do and what they do aren't always the same thing, but I think he definitely wants seven furlongs.
'We'll probably run him once or twice more this year, maybe he'll go to Goodwood at the Vintage and then we can look at the Dewhurst.'
Zavateri was a second major two-year-old winner of the year for Johnson Houghton after Havana Hurricane's success in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Comparing the two, she added: 'Havana Hurricane is a sprinter and this horse wants further, so they don't work together – and I haven't got enough horses to be breaking them against each other!'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
7 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Appleby targets winning farewell for Desert Flower
The Moulton Paddocks handler enjoyed a Classic double at Newmarket in early May, with Desert Flower's success preceded by victory for Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas the previous afternoon, but both have come up short in their subsequent top-level assignments. Ruling Court will join Prix Maurice de Gheest-bound stablemate Shadow Of Light in action at Deauville in the coming weeks, but it is still to be determined where Desert Flower will be seen next as Appleby eyes the perfect end to the high-class filly's career after she was beaten into third place as a hot favourite for the Oaks last month. 'Epsom took it's toll on her and she's back in work now, but I'm not going to pigeon-hole her into any race just yet,' said Appleby. 'There's only really two races left for her and she's not going to be a Breeders' Cup filly. She could be a Prix Jean Romanet filly and realistically that is going to come too soon, but we'll have to see. 'She's a filly that owes us nothing and was always going to be retired at the end of this season. She's far from retirement yet though and I just want to pick the right race to finish it off. 'It could be either a mile or 10 furlongs. A mile event might just become an easier option as the mile-and-a-quarter and mile-and-a-half fillies look the stronger divisions at the moment, so I would probably look for something at a mile if I could.' There may be some indecision regarding Desert Flower's next assignment, but the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano was immediately highlighted by Appleby as Ruling Court's next destination following his creditable third place finish in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Appleby added: 'He's targeted to head to Deauville and I'm a big believer in getting their heads in front to gain confidence. 'It's pointless stepping up and stepping up and keep getting chinned as after a certain amount of time they lose interest. There's a method behind it and hopefully it pays off.'
North Wales Chronicle
8 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Appleby targets winning farewell for Desert Flower
The Moulton Paddocks handler enjoyed a Classic double at Newmarket in early May, with Desert Flower's success preceded by victory for Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas the previous afternoon, but both have come up short in their subsequent top-level assignments. Ruling Court will join Prix Maurice de Gheest-bound stablemate Shadow Of Light in action at Deauville in the coming weeks, but it is still to be determined where Desert Flower will be seen next as Appleby eyes the perfect end to the high-class filly's career after she was beaten into third place as a hot favourite for the Oaks last month. 'Epsom took it's toll on her and she's back in work now, but I'm not going to pigeon-hole her into any race just yet,' said Appleby. 'There's only really two races left for her and she's not going to be a Breeders' Cup filly. She could be a Prix Jean Romanet filly and realistically that is going to come too soon, but we'll have to see. 'She's a filly that owes us nothing and was always going to be retired at the end of this season. She's far from retirement yet though and I just want to pick the right race to finish it off. 'It could be either a mile or 10 furlongs. A mile event might just become an easier option as the mile-and-a-quarter and mile-and-a-half fillies look the stronger divisions at the moment, so I would probably look for something at a mile if I could.' There may be some indecision regarding Desert Flower's next assignment, but the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano was immediately highlighted by Appleby as Ruling Court's next destination following his creditable third place finish in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Appleby added: 'He's targeted to head to Deauville and I'm a big believer in getting their heads in front to gain confidence. 'It's pointless stepping up and stepping up and keep getting chinned as after a certain amount of time they lose interest. There's a method behind it and hopefully it pays off.'
Leader Live
8 hours ago
- Leader Live
Appleby targets winning farewell for Desert Flower
The Moulton Paddocks handler enjoyed a Classic double at Newmarket in early May, with Desert Flower's success preceded by victory for Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas the previous afternoon, but both have come up short in their subsequent top-level assignments. Ruling Court will join Prix Maurice de Gheest-bound stablemate Shadow Of Light in action at Deauville in the coming weeks, but it is still to be determined where Desert Flower will be seen next as Appleby eyes the perfect end to the high-class filly's career after she was beaten into third place as a hot favourite for the Oaks last month. 'Epsom took it's toll on her and she's back in work now, but I'm not going to pigeon-hole her into any race just yet,' said Appleby. 'There's only really two races left for her and she's not going to be a Breeders' Cup filly. She could be a Prix Jean Romanet filly and realistically that is going to come too soon, but we'll have to see. 'She's a filly that owes us nothing and was always going to be retired at the end of this season. She's far from retirement yet though and I just want to pick the right race to finish it off. 'It could be either a mile or 10 furlongs. A mile event might just become an easier option as the mile-and-a-quarter and mile-and-a-half fillies look the stronger divisions at the moment, so I would probably look for something at a mile if I could.' There may be some indecision regarding Desert Flower's next assignment, but the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano was immediately highlighted by Appleby as Ruling Court's next destination following his creditable third place finish in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Appleby added: 'He's targeted to head to Deauville and I'm a big believer in getting their heads in front to gain confidence. 'It's pointless stepping up and stepping up and keep getting chinned as after a certain amount of time they lose interest. There's a method behind it and hopefully it pays off.'
