Keeneland Phoenix Stakes
Group 1, Curragh 16:35
€350,000 guaranteed,
2yo only, 6f   
Saturday 9th August 2025

All roads now lead somewhere for Zavateri, after Eve Johnson Houghton’s progressive colt produced a performance brimming with promise in the Group Two July Stakes at Newmarket.

Sent off an unfancied 18-1 chance, the son of Without Parole defied both the market and inexperience to land the spoils on only his second career start. Ridden with confidence by Charles Bishop, he surged home a length clear — making light work of a serious rise in class from his winning debut at Salisbury just a few weeks prior.

“I was absolutely thrilled with him,” said Johnson Houghton. “I knew he was a good horse, but I just thought he might still be learning. I was half-worried he’d be green, but he couldn’t have handled it better.”

That Zavateri came out of the race so well has only strengthened the feeling that this is a colt going places — and quickly.

“There’s no firm plan at the moment,” his trainer admitted. “We’re having those discussions now, but everything is still on the table — Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, the Vintage at Goodwood, maybe York... or we might just give him a bit more time. We haven’t ruled anything out.”

One thing is certain: the chestnut colt isn’t short on the qualities you can’t teach.

“He’s always had the right attitude at home,” she added. “He loves his work and wants to please — every time he walks into the bridle, he does it with purpose. He’s a joy to train.”

Wherever Zavateri heads next, he’ll be taken seriously. The odds won’t catch anyone napping this time.

Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1)
6f, €350,000 guaranteed
23 entries
Going:

NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY (form as of Jul 16)
1 10 American Gulf 2 9-5 Paul & Oliver Cole
2 134 Andab 5 2 9-5 Joseph O'Brien
3 14 Brussels 2 9-5 A P O'Brien
4 1 Do Bronxs 2 9-5 David Loughnane
5 21402 First Approach 2 9-5 A P O'Brien
6 12 Flushing Meadows 2 9-5 A P O'Brien
7 11 Gstaad 2 9-5 A P O'Brien
8 28 Naval Light 2 9-5 K R Burke
9 871 Neolithic 2 9-5 A P O'Brien
10 10 Postmodern 5 2 9-5 Hamad Al Jehani
11 1325 Power Blue 2 9-5 Adrian Murray
12 42 Puerto Rico 2 9-5 A P O'Brien
13 11 Reciprocated 2 9-5 K R Burke
14 6210 Star Material 2 9-5 Adrian Paul Keatley
15 4516 Tadej 2 9-5 Archie Watson
16 23 The Piper's Call 2 9-5 Daniel McLoughlin
17 101 Underwriter 2 9-5 Archie Watson
18 413 Balantina 5 2 9-2 Donnacha O'Brien
19 31 Beautify 2 9-2 A P O'Brien
20 3 Cactus 2 9-2 A P O'Brien
21 120 Green Sense 2 9-2 Joseph O'Brien
22 1112 Lady Iman 2 9-2 G M Lyons
23 221 True Love 2 9-2 A P O'Brien