Night In Vegas going all in for Richmond Stakes

A return to Goodwood will help signpost the rest of Night In Vegas’ campaign after finishing an honourable fifth in the Coventry Stakes.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s son of Lucky Vega, who is known as Elvis to those closest to him, was a handy winner on the Sussex Downs following his taking Ascot victory on debut and could now take to the undulations once again in the Richmond Stakes after finishing only a length and a half behind Great Barrier Reef at Royal Ascot.

Sam Hoskins of owners Kennet Valley Syndicates said: “We were over the moon with his run and he ran a stormer. Maybe with a clearer run he might have got closer, but we almost got that winning feeling and we got that moment where we could start cheering when he just about hit the front.

“He’s really exciting and such a cool horse. It was fantastic to see him run so well at Ascot and he’s all good after the race which is the most important thing.

“There is no rush and we were thinking of going to the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood which is in six weeks time and will give him plenty of time to get over that.

“It wasn’t lost on us when he won his conditions race there that he could come back for the Richmond later in the season and we know he’ll handle the track. There’s definitely no reason not to go there and will be a great day for our members.”

A strong showing in the Richmond Stakes – a race Johnson Houghton saddled Havana Hurricane to finish third 12 months ago – could ignite Group One dreams for later in the season.

However, if the promising youngster fails to make his mark, connections can console themselves with some enticing entries for valuable sales events and races they have favourable recent history in.

Hoskins added: “We’re lucky to have him and it’s nice to go to Goodwood knowing if we win we can run in a Group One, but if we don’t then we have the sales races as a fallback.

“If he doesn’t win then he holds some nice sales race entries and he could go to the £200,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes on August 22 and then there’s the Weatherbys race at Doncaster during the St Leger meeting we were lucky to win last year with Calendar Girl.

“He’s quite well weighted in both and maybe not as well-in as Calendar Girl last year, but on his Coventry run, the Doncaster race over six-and-a-half could really suit.”