It was a monumental victory for Kennet Valley Syndicate’s last season as Calendar Girl captured the Weatherbys £300,000 2yo Stakes here last season. They appear to be in pole position for further riches in the contest, as Night In Vegas heads the betting.
The Lucky Vega colt won a pair of valuable races in May, looking very much one to follow. He followed those with an excellent fifth in the Coventry Stakes. That was matched by a third in the Richmond, before landing a huge £171,585,51 in a Newmarket Auction Stakes.
Having amassed a-quarter-of-a-million pounds in prize money, Night In Vegas looks to have a strong chance to bolster that pot.
Speaking to At The Races, syndicate manager Sam Hoskins said: “We’re really looking forward to it. He’s where Calendar Girl won last year and plenty of the fancied horses are around him.
“The ground is going to be a bit slower, but he should handle it OK. If he can run to the level of Newmarket then he ought to have a big chance. The money’s huge and if he can be in the top three we’d be delighted.
“On the weights he’s the one they’ve got to beat, we’re really looking forward to it. He’s by a miler out of a mare by Rock Of Gibraltar. Both the dam and sire stayed a mile so the extra half a furlong shouldn’t be an issue.
“Needless to say we wouldn’t swap our horse” – Sam Hoskins
Night In Vegas faces old rival Zigazig Ah, who he gave 10lbs to at Newmarket for a length beating. Rated 102 and carrying 8st 11lb, on paper he looks bombproof.
Sam Hoskins continued: “We’re a little bit better off with Zigazig Ah from Newmarket. Maybe she’ll improve more for going six and a half. We’ll take our chance against her and there are some really interesting horses in there who on ratings might have quite a bit to find with us but probably they are well handicapped.
“William Haggas’ horse is a well-handicapped horse, drawn on the wing in 17. Needless to say we wouldn’t swap our horse, he’s in the right race and it’s worth a lot of money.”
Connections haven’t stopped at Doncaster with their plans, as Hoskins has other valuable targets in sight.
“He’s just a loveable character and he’s very straightforward. If he runs a good race and all went well in October there’s the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy over six. Or there’s the Tattersalls October race over seven. Both are very valuable races.
“If he improved further for going up to seven furlongs then how about a bit of a yahoo at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland.”