Johnson Houghton beaten but not bowed with Zavateri

Eve Johnson Houghton was left still dreaming of Guineas glory next season, despite seeing Zavateri suffer the first defeat of his career in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

It was somewhat fitting that in a week millions were spent at the annual Tattersalls Book 1 sale that the 35,000 guineas buy from unheralded sire Without Parole was one of only two horses with an unbeaten record to protect – and also the only top-level winner – heading into Newmarket’s final Group One of the season.

Having made it four straight victories when heading into the lion’s den to scoop top honours at the Curragh last time out, Mick and Janice Mariscotti’s pride and joy was attempting to further advertise his Classic claims in what was billed as a vintage renewal of the Dewhurst.

There was to be no Hollywood ending for the youngster’s blockbuster season, as the famous undulations of the Rowley Mile claimed another victim, but having been content with Zavateri’s fourth-placed finish, Johnson Houghton vowed to be back in the spring retaining utmost confidence in her charge.

Johnson Houghton said: “He’s run a perfectly fine race and if you said to us this time last year we would be fourth in the Dewhurst we would have bitten your hand off.

“He’s won a Group One and already got that in the bag and he possibly didn’t handle the track, but he’s going to have to learn to handle it if he’s going to come back here for the Guineas – that is still the dream over the winter.

“Charlie (Bishop, jockey) said he just didn’t come out of the dip very well, but that can happen here.

“It’s been amazing (this season) and I can’t be anything but happy. We’ve all been dreaming the dream with him and I’m confident we’ll still have a great horse next year.”

It was Aidan O’Brien’s Gstaad who had suffered defeat at the hands of Zavateri in the National Stakes last month and although the Royal Ascot winner reversed form with his old foe, he ultimately had to settle for second when the 7-4 favourite could not reel in Andrew Balding’s resurgent winner Gewan.

It was the third straight major contest the Ballydoyle youngster had filled the runner-up spot since his Coventry Stakes triumph at the Royal meeting, but O’Brien was far from deterred as he also eyes a tilt at a version of the Guineas next term.

O’Brien said: “He ran really well, he ran a lovely race. I think going up to a mile next season will be fine for him, he will be older and stronger, he’s run a good race.

“He’s run in lots of good races this year and he just keeps bumping into one, but he’s still run well and I’m very happy with him.

“I think he will be one for the Guineas, any of the three.”

Also undeterred with Guineas ambitions is Charlie Appleby after Distant Storm failed to repeat his impressive Tattersalls Stakes victory when filling third spot.

It may not have been a fourth Dewhurst in seven years for the Moulton Paddocks handler, but the son of Night Of Thunder is likely to be back on home turf attempting to correct the record on the first weekend of May.

Appleby said: “After being beaten by the winner in the Acomb, you think do we give him one more run then put him away. He then goes and wins and you are little bit drawn into a Dewhurst on the back of that.

“He will be given the winter to develop and strengthen now and William (Buick) said among those horses, he felt as though immaturity was coming out a bit.

“He has lost nothing in defeat and we will put him away for the winter and bring him out in the spring and decide whether to go for a Craven or have a racecourse gallop and come for the Guineas.

“He switched off lovely and the last twice he has raced the right way around. I think he is a horse that will be in contention as a Guineas horse in the spring.”