Night In Vegas team set sights on Royal Ascot

A trip to the Royal meeting lies ahead for lucky syndicate owners of Night In Vegas following his exciting debut at Ascot on Saturday.

At a meeting that can often provide plenty of Royal Ascot clues, the Kennet Valley-owned colt made a good impression when keeping on powerfully over six furlongs. Sent off at 10-1, connections were hoping for a promising first run from Eve Johnson Houghton’s youngster and were not to be disappointed.

The syndicate are no stranger to success in the sales ring and boast a promising-looking hand of two-year-olds this season to show for it. The team had to wait until late into the first evening of Book Three of Tattersalls Yearling Sales to acquire the son of Lucky Vega for 60,000 guineas, but their patience appears to have paid off.

Syndicate manager Sam Hoskins said: “We are very excited, we went there hopeful of a promising run. Eve has been very bullish about him all spring, he has a very good temperament at home.

“We know he likes the track now, so it is obvious to go back to Ascot for the Royal meeting. The Windsor Castle has had its conditions changed, it’s now over six furlongs which would suit but he is not eligible based on the sire conditions as Lucky Vega never won beyond six furlongs, so it will be the Coventry.

“It means going up against Aidan O’Brien and his million dollar babies, but that’s the great thing about racing, you can get David versus Goliath and he would have every right to line up in that race.

“A run before Ascot isn’t out of the question, I haven’t spoken too much to Eve about it yet, but there’s an idea that he could go for the Woodcote (at Epsom).

“The Coventry is the target though, and it is very exciting for us to have a Royal Ascot horse on our hands, particularly with the retirement of Sir Busker and the delay to Calendar Girl’s season. We had about 25 owners there on Saturday and it was a huge thrill for them all.”