EVE Johnson Houghton looks to have a useful prospect on her hands in Night In Vegas, who smoothly delivered the goods on his introduction at Ascot on Saturday.
In the Peroni Nastro Azzurro Novice Stakes,the son of Lucky Vega settled just off the early pace before readily picking off Saeed bin Suroor’s also-promising Victory Gold to score by a length and a quarter, going away.
It was a seventh juvenile runner and first winner from that division in 2026 for Johnson Houghton, who said of her 10-1 scorer: “I’m really pleased with him as you’re always throwing them in at the deep end when they come to Ascot.
“He’s just done everything very easily but has come later than usual as I normally have a two-year-old winner in April, and I was getting itchy feet.
“Royal Ascot (Coventry Stakes) would be on the agenda, but I think he might need a bit more experience.
“I don’t gallop them endlessly at home, but I did take him to Kempton Park because my gallops were too firm.”
As he came back to the cheers of Kennet Valley Syndicate VI members jockey Charlie Bishop exclaimed: “It took only one flick to send him up a gear. He’s a good prospect.”