Night In Vegas (15:54 Newmarket — Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes, Class 2, 6f)
A two-year-old bay colt by Lucky Vega, trained by Eve Johnson Houghton and partnered by Charles Bishop, who has been on him for all four starts. Night In Vegas has been tested at the highest level this season — fifth in the Group 2 Coventry at Royal Ascot and third in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood last month, beaten 2½ lengths at 6/1 by Man’s Best Friend. That form puts him well clear of the majority of this 20-runner field.
He drops into a Class 2 sales race today which is a significant relief in class, the draw in stall 7 is a positive with high numbers favoured at Newmarket over 6f, and Bishop has a 50% win rate on him across their four rides together. The Newmarket straight is ideal for a progressive sprinting juvenile and the prize money here — £161,000 — tells you this is a race connections have targeted.
Verdict: Back to win — the classiest horse in the field, proven at Group 2 level, and a drop in grade that should see him dominate. 🏇
