"Jockey Eve Johnson Houghton sees two-year-old horse Dewhurst as the top-ranked in the country among unbeaten juveniles"
Unbeaten Zavateri Aims for Darley Dewhurst Stakes Glory
Eve Johnson-Houghton's highly promising colt, Zavateri, is set to make his mark in the British racing scene, with the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 11 as his primary target. The unbeaten two-year-old has already impressed with victories in the Group Two Coral Vintage Stakes at Goodwood and the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown.
Zavateri was initially slated to compete in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh on September 14, but it appears he will instead commence his autumn campaign with the prestigious Dewhurst Stakes. In case he encounters handicap penalties, the Jean-Luc Lagardère Stakes at Longchamp serves as a backup option.
Johnson-Houghton is confident in Zavateri's ability, describing him as the best two-year-old in the country based on current form. The colt is one of 52 entries for the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, which includes 16 trained by Aidan O'Brien.
Meanwhile, another of Johnson-Houghton's colts, Havana Hurricane, is also making waves. Despite a minor setback at the races, the colt has since recovered and is in good condition. His plans are more fluid, with potential races including the Mill Reef and Flying Childers.
On the other hand, Fitzella, trained by Hugo Palmer, is due to compete in the Prix du Calvados on September 12, a race held in Deauville, France. The filly showed impressive speed in her last race, despite Ascot's stiff six furlongs, and Palmer believes she could inject pace mid-race. Her running style is reminiscent of that of Frankel, according to Palmer.
Palmer is considering Fitzella's next steps after she steps up in distance for the Prix du Calvados. If she were to run over a mile, it could potentially be at the Breeders' Cup in Del Mar. Palmer dreams that Fitzella might turn into a Guineas filly next year, but currently sees her as more of a sprinter.
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[1] It's worth noting that Zavateri did not participate in the 2021 National Stakes, likely because he was not yet prominent or racing at that time. His profile and plans focus on the current 2025 season and upcoming major juvenile races.
