Sussex Stakes excitement building for Zavateri team

Zavateri will put the finishing touches to his Goodwood preparations in a racecourse gallop later this week, with Eve Johnson Houghton challenging her leading performer to “walk the walk” in his eagerly-awaited Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes return.

One of last year’s elite juveniles, the Group One winner has been off the track since finishing second in the Greenham and having had to sit out Classic targets and Royal Ascot, will now get his chance to mix it with some of the best of his contemporaries at a mile.

Johnson Houghton said: “Zavateri is in great form and I couldn’t be happier with him.

“He’s got one more good bit (of work) to do and then we’ll be ready to rock and roll.

“He’s already had a racecourse gallop and I couldn’t have been happier with him, he had a real nice blow, nothing excessive but he needed it. He’s come on a ton for it and one more good go should have him spot on.”

Johnson Houghton has always held unwavering belief in the son of Without Parole, who went over to Ireland to scoop top honours last term and was unbeaten up until his final start at two when a commendable fourth in the Dewhurst.

The Woodway handler has had to painfully sit watch on as Sussex Stakes favourite Bow Echo has cemented his place as the generational leader at a mile, with the likes of Gstaad – the horse Zavateri edged out at the Curragh when landing the National Stakes – among others to land major prizes at a mile during Zavateri’s absence.

However, Johnson Houghton is relishing getting her ace performer back on track, optimistic he can play his part, when he will meet not only the best of his age-group but also leading older horses in the division.

Johnson Houghton added: “Bring them on! They’ve walked their walk and now we’ve got to walk the walk and it’s down to us to have a go and give them something to think about.

“Races like this are what it is all about and we’re here for. I looked at the St James’s Palace Stakes and thought we would definitely have been in the fight. I don’t know if we would have won it, but we would have been there fighting and Zavateri loves a scrap.

“His run in the Greenham was really good and it was unfortunate we had the hiccup, but he is back feeling great and moving great and I couldn’t be happier with him.”