Zavateri the star turn in season to remember for Johnson Houghton

For Eve Johnson Houghton, 2025 has been a stellar one in her training year, breaking through the £1million prize-money barrier and winning her second Group One event.

That success came in Ireland courtesy of her teak-tough juvenile Zavateri, who took on the might of Aidan O’Brien at the Curragh in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and came away victorious.

Having already won the July Stakes at Newmarket, and the Vintage at Goodwood, at that stage of the season the Mick and Janice Mariscotti-owned Zavateri was undoubtedly top of the charts.

Tradition dictates, however, that the champion two-year-old is more often than not crowned by winning the Dewhurst, and being unbeaten in four who could blame connections for going to the well once more.

While Zavateri lost his unblemished record at Newmarket behind surprise winner Gewan, he was only beaten three lengths with his trainer convinced a combination of fast ground and the undulating track contributed to his defeat.

It has not dampened enthusiasm for those closest to him, though, and Classic dreams are still being had – but whether that is at Newmarket or somewhere else will not be decided until the spring.

“He always went well on the gallops. Even last December he was working well, but when people were mentioning him for Ascot I was saying ‘no, he’s not going to be an Ascot two-year-old as I don’t want to push him that hard’,” said Johnson Houghton, who lost her father, Fulke, who trained over 1,200 winners in his 46-year career, at the age of 84 in February.

“He was always showing up well and we always thought he was going to be a nice horse, but how nice you never know.

“We took him to Salisbury for his debut which he won nicely and then to Newmarket for the July Stakes.

“I thought he was a ridiculous price that day. He went into the stalls and he was 28-1, yet when he jumped out he was 18-1 so someone will have to explain that to me. I couldn’t believe what price he was, to be honest.

“He was impressive that day and it worked out well (Brussels finished fourth and went on to be second in the Middle Park and at the Breeders’ Cup).

“After that it was Goodwood and I really did enjoy the Vintage Stakes. He’s very tough, he takes racing really well and he wants to win, which is half the battle.”

Having beaten Brussels at Newmarket and another Ballydoyle favourite in Dorset at Goodwood, the time had come for Charlie Bishop’s mount to take on O’Brien’s leading two-year-old at the time, Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad (who would win at the Breeders’ Cup).

Johnson Houghton remembered: “The National Stakes was just a really good horse race between two very good horses.

“Of course I remember it fondly because we came out on top that day, which was great.

“The Dewhurst was always our aim, but I do think that day he was feeling the effects of two quite hard races at Goodwood and the Curragh.

“I thought there was a big enough gap between Ireland and the Dewhurst and he’d shown no signs at home that he might be over the top, and in any case he wasn’t actually beaten very far, only three lengths.

“He didn’t appear to handle the track very well and the ground was quick which made him unbalanced. Despite changing legs an awful lot, he was only beaten three lengths. It is also a front-runners’ track and Gewan, who is very good, got loose on the front end.

“If someone had said to me at the beginning of the year you’d be fourth in the Dewhurst, I’d have snapped their hands off with a Group One already won.

“He’ll be entered in the Guineas, definitely, and we’ll pick our way through and work out what we’ll do.”

Zavateri was far from the only star in the Blewbury stable, with Havana Hurricane winning at Royal Ascot, Rage Of Bamby being successful in the Hackwood Stakes and Great Acclaim tasting glory at Glorious Goodwood.

“I was absolutely thrilled with how the season went, they all stepped forward so it was great, but now we’ve got to go and do it all again, starting from zero once more!” said Johnson Houghton.

“At least we know what we’ve got, we’re really excited about having Zavateri in the yard, we’re thrilled to have him.”