Eve Johnson Houghton is chasing another valuable pot, this time with Eabha in the British EBF £100,000 2YO Fillies’ Series Final at Goodwood on Wednesday.
It has been a case of aim, fire, and reload for the stable’s star two-year-old Night In Vegas with the colt picking off over £170,000 in a sales race at Newmarket and over £200,000 in a similar event at Doncaster.
Now Johnson Houghton is aiming to pull off another big-money heist with market leader Eabha, a filly who in company with Night In Vegas has Group form to her name.
She said: “We like these sorts of days, we know she likes Goodwood and she has been second in a Group Three and fourth in a Group Two so she is pretty useful. She has had quite a lot of racing so far this year but it is a big pot so you have to go for it.”
Eabha demonstrated a liking for the Sussex Downs when running an unlucky second to Light Of Dawn in the Prestige Stakes, meeting trouble in running at a crucial stage before finishing fast.
She backed that up with fourth over a mile behind Musical Times in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster.
Johnson Houghton said: “She seems in great form and I’m really happy with her so she’s been a great fun filly.”
Zigazig Ah landed the Weatherby’s Super Sprint at Newbury by the narrowest of margins back in July before finishing second and seventh to Night In Vegas as he mopped up his two big wins.
Trainer Richard Spencer felt they were not positive enough with the filly last time out but said she will get on the front foot at Goodwood in an effort to bring out some improvement.
“She’s been consistent all year and I think we probably rode her a bit conservatively at Doncaster last time,” he said. “I think she wants to be ridden a bit more forcefully, so we will try and go back to those tactics.
“Hopefully she can run well, it’s a good pot and hopefully she can get in the prize-money.
“She’s been good all year, running in those competitive handicaps and sales races. If she comes out of this well she’ll go for the Tattersalls Somerville race over seven furlongs at Newmarket a week on Saturday.”
Tikka (James Fanshawe), Coral Cove (James Owen) and Fillipas (Rod Millman) look set to provide stiff opposition to the pair amongst a 15-strong field for the near £51,000 first prize.
Connections of Naqeeb are is hoping lightning strikes twice in the Listed Virgin Bet Foundation Stakes following the six-year-old’s shock win in the race 12 months ago.
Steve Brown, husband and assistant to trainer Julie Camacho, described Goodwood as the gelding’s “happy place” following a number of decent efforts at the track.
Despite a defeat there behind Zavateri on soft ground in the Group Two Celebration Mile last time, he remains convinced the Nathaniel gelding reserves his best for the track.
“It was just the conditions on the day last time which were too much for him. I think one or two were in the same boat. The ground got beyond soft and he couldn’t handle it,” said Brown.
“He was fine on the bridle and it looked promising but as is always the case you only know whether a horse handles conditions when they come off the bridle and it was just too much for him.
“But he does enjoy Goodwood and has a pretty good record there apart from his last run. It is one of his happy places so we would hope he would go well again.”
Naqeeb is 6lb better off for a short-head beating by Boiling Point at the track in May which in theory should allow Camacho’s runner to turn around the form.
John and Thady Gosden’s Lion’s Pride and Andrew Balding’s Respond provide significant opposition while Treble Tee (Simon and Ed Crisford) and Johnson Houghton’s Quisana complete the field.
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