Unbeaten UK-runner lands National Stakes Unbeaten UK-runner Zavateri (15/2) has trainer Eve Johnson Houghton dreaming of next year’s big targets following the juvenile’s success under jockey Charlie Bishop in the Curragh’s Group 1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes today. Bought by the Oxfordshire-based trainer for 35,000gns as a yearling, Zavateri’s great grandam was undefeated 2008 Prix de l'Arc winner Zarkava and having himself scored on Salisbury debut, following up at Group 2 level twice at Newmarket and Goodwood in recent months. Today, Zavateri faced three Ballydoyle-trained including Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad (10/11f), with little separating the pair in the closing stages. The pair had the race between them through the final furlong, with Zavateri scoring by a head. The race was run in blustery conditions and while the pair raced close together, precious little interference occurred and the result was allowed stand. Johnson Houghton reported “he is so straightforward, he is such a dude of a horse and I don’t train him, he trains me. This race just sat right because it was a long way from Goodwood to the Dewhurst. We wanted to find a spot in-between and I didn’t want to go to the Champagne and carry another penalty. “He’s already won a Group 2 with a penalty and this is a Group 1, but we are coming into Aidan’s (O’Brien) backyard, although it’s the right spot time-wise for him. “He’s come from a long way back on sticky ground, and they have not been finishing from a long way back today. That was pretty impressive I’d say and Charlie has given him a beautiful ride. He’s never been on this ground before; he’s not travelled away overnight before but he’s taken it all in his stride. “The trickiest part was saddling him up. That was the most exciting part we had.” Jockey Bishop added “we thought it would be tactical and to be fair it worked out easy enough. I followed Christophe (on Gstaad) although had to come out sooner than I would have liked to. Gstaad was very tough and we headed each other a couple of times and this lad, like at Goodwood, never knows when he is beaten. “He will stay a mile next year and is exciting for Eve, myself and his owners Mick and Janice Mariscotti.” Quotes from Alan Magee
