Humidity coming to the boil for hot-looking Vintage Stakes

South Wales Guardian

28-07-2025

Andrew Balding's son of Ulysses excelled from the front when winning the Chesham Stakes and although the form of that race has taken the odd knock since, connections are hopeful they have identified the perfect Group Two spot for the exciting youngster to cement his position near the top of the juvenile ranks.
'I loved the way he did it at Ascot and he was just lolloping along and James (Doyle) felt if someone had come to him he would have picked up and gone again,' said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.
A GUTSY PERFORMANCE 💪
Humidity wins the #RoyalAscot Chesham Stakes 🏆 pic.twitter.com/8OoGtQUzR8
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 21, 2025
'The form has taken a few whacks which would make you nervous, but he did it in great style at Ascot and it makes you excited to seeing him go again.
'He's drawn 10 which might be a bit wider than ideal, but hopefully he can get out and get striding.
'I'm sure we'll try to go forward with him, but it's not like he has to make the running and he's a really relaxed horse who has a very big stride and I think he will be fine.'
Also arriving with a 100 per cent record from two starts is Eve Johnson Houghton's Zavateri, who renews July Stakes rivalry with Ed Walker's Do Or Do Not having fought out the finish at Newmarket last month.
Both colts are stepping up in trip here, something Johnson Houghton believes will bring improvement from Zavateri.
'He's been in very good form since Newmarket and won the July Stakes impressively,' said Johnson Houghton.
'I know he's got a 3lb penalty now, but we think that won't be a problem to him and we've always thought he wanted further so this was the obvious next step for him.'
Aidan O'Brien has won this three times in the past, with Highland Reel his most notable graduate, and this time he relies on Dorset, who has caught the eye both in defeat on debut and when returned to the Curragh to open his account next time.
O'Brien said: 'We think he's come forward from the last day and it will be interesting to see.'
Dorset is joined from Ireland in the line-up by Joseph O'Brien's Coventry Stakes fourth Andab, who has not only had the misfortune of bumping into an on-song Gstaad but also Albert Einstein since a clear-cut winner on debut.
David Menuisier's Goodwood Galaxy, Richard Hannon's Gharma Sutra and Hugo Palmer's Laureate Crown have all raced once, won once and step up in grade, with the latter given the chance to emulate subsequent Classic hero Galileo Gold who won this for Palmer 10 year's ago.
Charlie Johnston's Vincenzo Peruggia showed marked improvement when off the mark at the second time of asking, while John and Thady Gosden's Haydock winner Morris Dancer.