Night In Vegas (5/2) secured Kennet Valley Syndicates and Eve Johnson Houghton another valuable payday with a thrilling last-gasp success in the Qatar Racing British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes.
Settled in rear of the 11 runners, Night In Vegas had a lot of ground to make up after market rivals Arapaho Gold and Satellite Of Love kicked off the front approaching the final two furlongs.
Charlie Bishop galvanised his mount to challenge inside the final furlong and, in a bobbing finish, Night In Vegas had his head down on the line to deny G2 Gimcrack Stakes victor Arapaho Gold (9/4F) by a nose. Satellite Of Love (4/1), winner of the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy last time out, was a head further back in third.
Night In Vegas has now won six of his eight starts this season, including three sales races at Newmarket and Doncaster, and amassed more than £720,000 in prize money.
Johnson Houghton said: “My heart is not great! I was standing up the top there with Becky Dunlop, saying, ‘I think we are beat, I think we are beat’, and she said, ‘Wait for the photo’. The moment it came through, I made a right noise – a bit of a show of myself! I honestly thought we were beat.
“I think they set off very fast and he just got behind a wall of horses that just are not as good as him. Luckily, he is like a little motorbike. He has been incredible – what a horse. He has run eight times, won six, been third in the Richmond and fifth in the Coventry.
“As you might see, he has not got the greatest feet, and we probably did not have him in the greatest condition in the middle of the summer when the ground was so firm – that really told on him – so I do not think that was his best form, and he is improving. He is just a wonder horse to train.
“I said when we got here, ‘I hope he has still got a song to sing, our Elvis [horse’s nickname]’, and he still does. This should be a Group race. I understand why it is not, I get the politics of it, but it is as good as a Group race. Night In Vegas is going to have a nice holiday, and so am I!”
Bishop said: “I was relieved. I had a lovely run through, but the first two just got away from me a little bit. I thought I was running out of time, but we got there in the nick of time. This horse is an absolute warrior; he does not know how to get beat. Credit to Eve and all her team.
“I told connections beforehand I was planning to be patient on him. It was smooth enough, then I thought they had got away from me, but inside the last half a furlong, I knew he would get them. His head was down as far as he could get it; he does not like getting beat. I would have been very upset if I had got beat.
“Night In Vegas is easy to ride. His only small hiccup can be being a fidget in the stalls, not even anything bad. He just does not stand on all fours, so because of that, he just pops up and misses half a length. But his will to win is incredible, beyond anything.”
Sam Hoskins, who manages Kennet Valley, said: “It was just the most exciting race ever. I thought, ‘Oh, we’re going to stay on. We might be third, we might be second…’. I actually had the Betfair odds up on the photo and we got shorter and shorter.
“What an amazing training performance from Eve and Charlie. I am so pleased for all his 16 owners. What a journey, what a horse. This is what it’s all about. You don’t need to be a big boy to get involved in racing; anyone can get involved, and we just love that horse. We are going to have a big party.
“I am a little bit emotional, as my dad died seven years ago to this day. It is not about me, because all the 16 syndicate members are fantastic. It is everyman’s sport; it does not just need to be for the top end.”
Connor Beasley said of the runner-up: “Arapaho Gold went about his job really well. I battled Rossa Ryan, who was on the off side, and a fast finisher just came at them towards the line. It is just a bit unlucky.
“I was drawn 10 of 11, and there was a gap in between the stalls. I had to just jump and let him get into his stride, as he is a big-striding horse. It probably would not have helped him, but at the same time, he was doing everything within himself and went about his job well.
“He is not just a two-year-old, as we kept saying throughout the season. He looks to be a better three-year-old with a good winter on his back now. He has danced every dance. Last time, he was giving weight away on quick ground, and the ground today was ideal. But we were just unlucky. He is definitely one to look forward to, and I think he will take us to big places.”
Rossa Ryan said of Satellite Of Love: “He ran a cracker. I would say he has built on his Doncaster run and his run at Redcar. If he keeps improving, he will be a nice colt next year.”