Johnson Houghton happy to send Zavateri back out quickly in Celebration Mile
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Fri 28 Aug 2026
Eve Johnson Houghton is happy to reload her top gun Zavateri for the second time in a week in search of victory in the Virgin Bet Celebration Mile at Goodwood.
The Without Parole colt, a winner at the highest level at two, has endured a frustrating time in his second season, suffering a setback in the spring and then coming up against top-class performers in his last two races.
But just seven days after finishing a creditable fifth behind globetrotting superstar Notable Speech in the Group One City of York Stakes, Johnson Houghton believes Zavateri has a perfect opportunity to get his head in front.
“He ran really well at York, we were pleased with him and he has come out of the race well,” said the Blewbury handler.
“The thinking behind it (running him again quickly) is that he has not had much racing this year yet and time is running out.”
Zavateri, who claimed the notable scalp of Gstaad in the National Stakes last term, finished a highly-creditable fifth behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes over this mile trip in July, but looked equally at home over the seven furlongs on the Knavesmire.
“We are a little bit in the ‘don’t know’ camp trip-wise at the moment,” the trainer continued. “But we get hung up on trip over here a little bit. In Australia they run them over all sorts of different trips.
“The impression is that he goes well over both and it depends very much on how the race is run.”
Seagulls Eleven, owned by a group of current and former Brighton footballers including James Milner and Danny Welbeck, is looking to bounce back from a below-par showing in the Sussex, after which the horse showed signs of heat stress.
Trainer Hugo Palmer said: “I think the heat got to him a little bit that day. He tried very hard and it was very hot. But he came home, ate up and was absolutely fine.
“Any rain certainly wouldn’t hurt him, even though he goes on any ground. He’s fine on firm ground and he won well on Oaks day (Diomed Stakes) on very soft ground.
“I hope he goes there with every chance.”
Karl Burke’s Boiling Point has already shown a liking for Goodwood’s undulations this season, winning a Listed prize in May and most recently running Galen close in a nine-furlong conditions event at the end of July.
Qirat famously ran out a shock 150-1 winner of the Sussex Stakes last season for Ralph Beckett and is back for more, while Julie Camacho rolls the dice with Naqeeb, who is 3lb better off for a short head defeat at the hands of Boiling Point in Goodwood’s Festival Stakes.
Pina Sonata (James Fanshawe), Arisaig (Charlie Johnston), Ebt’s Guard (William Muir and Chris Grassick) and Wathnan Racing’s Fast Tracker (Ed Walker) complete the nine-strong field.
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