Bishop eyeing successful Champions Day swansong for Zavateri Charlie Bishop is hoping to wave goodbye to Zavateri in style when the duo take their place in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Qatar Racing British Champions Day. Eve Johnson Houghton’s crack three-year-old will return to Group One company having landed the Celebration Mile at a damp Goodwood, for a race that will be the colt’s swansong before heading off to stud. Bishop said: “Zavateri is in cracking form and I think the straight track at Ascot over the mile will suit. “Any rain we get will be appreciated, but he doesn’t need it – it might just inconvenience others. “It’s sad to be losing him to stud, but obviously very excited to see what he does there and one day hopefully ride some of his progeny on the track.” With Zavateri soon to depart Johnson Houghton’s Woodway base, it could be Night In Vegas tasked with filling his lofty shoes next term after being one of the success stories of the current campaign. His stylish win at Newmarket earlier this month was a third straight triumph in valuable sales-race company and he now joins his elder stablemate at Ascot seeking to end the season on a high in the Qatar Racing British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes. Bishop continued: “Night In Vegas faces a stiffer task than he has done the last twice, but I feel he has done nothing but improve and at Newmarket he was better than he had been all year. If he improves again then he must have a massive chance of going very well. “What a little money-spinner and he’s been brilliant. He was running against similar horses last time to what he had been, but it felt like they were slower given the way he quickened up from a bad draw. “It was pretty smooth and hopefully he can finish off his season well before training on to be a nice three-year-old as well.”
