Night In Vegas proved himself the undoubted king of the sales race as he racked up his third straight big payday in the £200,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes at Newmarket.
Eve Johnson Houghton was hopeful the horse known at home as ‘Elvis’ had “another song to sing” in a glorious campaign, and having won similar events on both the July course and at Doncaster, he was sent off 8-13 favourite to swell the coffers even further.
Charlie Bishop was suitably confident throughout on the Kennet Valley Syndicates-owned colt as he produced a bloodless display to see off old foe Zigazig Ah by two and three-quarter lengths.
Johnson Houghton said: “I kept thinking I hope there is another song to sing, come on Elvis, there’s another song to sing and you do worry the elastic will snap eventually but he’s just a really good horse.
“He took it up early enough and he’s just simply a good horse. I think he’s improving and hopefully with a bit of luck he will improve again next year. We started him at Ascot and he’s just rolled and rolled from there.
“These two-year-old races are amazing and this horse was bought for 60,000 guineas in Book 3. They’re the sort of races where you can tell owners ‘you could own a horse like this’ and they really need to be supported.”
Night In Vegas could have one last dance for his two-year-old year at Ascot on Qatar Racing British Champions Day before connections can dream of climbing the ladder next term.
“The form is there and we’re going to go to Champions Day (October 17) now for the conditions race (Qatar Racing British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes) all being well,” continued Johnson Houghton.
“I think he will be a seven-furlong horse to a mile next year and possibly a German 2000 Guineas horse, that’s the level we will be aiming for or possibly a Jersey Stakes horse.
“I could see us going Greenham Stakes, German Guineas to start with. That’s the area we’re thinking and we’ll see how he winters, but we’re really enjoying the journey with him.”
St Leger-winning Saffie Osborne found the scoresheet once again on a major Saturday card when guiding William Haggas’ 11-8 favourite Hoseki to a head success in the opening British EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap.
Osborne was out of luck later in two rides for Charlie Appleby, when first 5-6 favourite Altius was edged out by Ed Walker’s Kicking Bear (13-8) in the Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Maiden Stakes before Mublish also had to settle for second to Andrew Balding’s 4-6 favourite Royal Quest in the BetMGM EBF Maiden Stakes.
It was a result that brought up a double for the Kingsclere handler and jockey Colin Keane with the Irishman believing experience won the day.
He said: “He had a nice run the first day and Andrew said to keep it straightforward in a small field, use your experience and to be fair to him he’s come there with his ears pricked.
“I was always conserving energy from halfway and when I asked him he quickened well to the line. He feels like a horse who could go up to a mile and a quarter next year. He seems very sensible and relaxed so I can’t see why he wouldn’t go further.”
