Juvenile Watch: look out for the Eve Johnson Houghton yard

Eve Johnson Houghton is an ever-emerging force in all divisions but has done particularly well with her two-year-olds in recent seasons. The early signs are she could have yet an even better crop of juveniles this term.  

They are clearly well forward compared to many other trainers as already she has had thirteen juvenile runners. More importantly they’re evidently well-educated and talented, with four winners on the board already and a 30 per cent strike-rate is good by any standard.

Of her two turf winners and Blewburton, it is the latter that looks to have the most potential. He impressed me when winning at as, despite showing greenness when asked to quicken and temporarily getting outpaced, he finished to great effect and was able to overhaul two unpenalised rivals with prior racecourse experience. By Saxon Warrior out of the unraced daughter of Casamento, Olga De Polga, his pedigree and Leicester performance suggests that six furlongs and maybe even further later in the season should be well within his range.

Though narrowly beaten on debut at Goodwood, another worthy of a mention is . By Acclamation out of Allure - a daughter of Oasis Dream - he ran a big race to finish second to a colt with plenty more experience. I liked how he changed gear to get to a challenging position, and for all no rules were broken I do wonder if he was marginally intimidated by the eventual winner leaning towards him in the closing stages. He’s potentially smart and has gone into my as a winner in waiting.

A £16.75 return to a level £1 stake is not to be ignored and I’d be keen to follow the Johnson Houghton juveniles until the good form dips. Her next representative could be Rokuni, who holds an entry at on Saturday. Another by Saxon Warrior, he is out of the unraced Dark Angel mare Riyaza, who herself is a half-sister to a Group Two-placed filly in Australia. It’s a smart enough pedigree which combined with the excellent yard form means he warrants plenty of consideration.

After what I’m sure has been a challenging start to the season, trainer Aidan O’Brien will have been thrilled with the performance of winner Whistlejacket, who atoned for his first-time out defeat with victory in the .

As on debut, was quickly away from the gate again and settled into a strong and powerful stride. He quickened up smartly approaching the final furlong and impressed in his ability to draw away from previous winner Arizona Blaze, who finished 3¾ lengths adrift.

As has been mentioned plenty, the Ballydoyle string are perhaps not yet fully firing and it’s entirely possible that a small lack of fitness meant that Whistlejacket didn’t see out the six-furlong trip on debut. Equally, I’m never too worried by a Ballydoyle juvenile getting beaten on debut.

Whistlejacket is by No Nay Never out of Adventure Seeker, making him a full brother to 2022 champion two-year old . Like Whistlejacket, he too was beaten over six furlongs on debut before going unbeaten throughout the rest of his juvenile career. His little brother has more to do yet and will have to prove himself on a better surface, but it certainly isn't beyond the realms of possibility that he could replicate that pattern of success.

Immediately after the race O’Brien suggested that Whistlejacket would next be seen at Royal Ascot. The colt showed plenty of speed on this surface and the stiff finish over five furlongs in the Norfolk Stakes would suit him well, but he is sure to be one of a number of juveniles representing his trainer and they’ll be shuffled accordingly.

(Clive Cox)

Clive Cox is renowned for unearthing smart and precocious two-year-olds, but last season was something of an anomaly with his juveniles appearing to take a while to come to hand. It looks like this season will be a case of ‘normal service resumed’ and I was very taken with the performance of Diligently at Ascot last week.

A son of Harry Angel - so brilliantly managed by Cox throughout his career - the colt showed plenty of early pace over the five-furlong trip but probably wasn’t aided by racing on the wing and got a little lost when asked to quicken. However, he stuck to his guns well and will have surely learned plenty for the experience. He looks well up to landing a maiden, particularly on better ground.

(Charlie Appleby)

He was mentioned after his debut run over five furlongs at Newmarket in April when I suggested that he’d be interesting on a more conventional track, given that he didn't appear to not handle the Rowley Mile dip. 

It was therefore a small surprise to see him return there on Sunday over course and distance and again I’m not convinced he loved the dip, although he was better and despite race winner confirming superiority I thought Al Qudra ran a much improved race given he was slow to leave the stalls. 

My belief remains that on a more conventional track he’ll show himself to be better than this, and he will also improve for six furlongs. I’d be confident that come the end of the season he’ll hold the highest rating of the seven runners from Sunday’s contest.