Sugar spices up Sweet Solera for Johnson Houghton

Sugar Yes Please could have a bright future having run out an appropriately named winner of the Newsells Park Stud Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket.

Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, the Newbury winner was sent off 11-1 in the hands of Charlie Bishop and flew home late to deny the Kevin Philippart De Foy-trained 6-4 favourite Nuit d’Eclair by half a length.

Johnson Houghton said: “We always knew she would appreciate going up in trip, she just had to relax during her races first. All she wants to do is please but it just means she does a bit too much early but now she has learned to relax and settle into her run and it’s great to see.

“I trained the dam (Alezan) for Mark (Middleton-Heath, owner-breeder) and it’s her first foal and she is by Mohaather who my mum bred, so I feel it is a home-bred and we’re chuffed. We always knew she was good but to win this is great.

“Mark was saying to me she needs a gap and I had to tell him to calm down as there was still another furlong. She showed a lovely turn of foot at the end didn’t she.”

With Group Three honours now secured, Sugar Yes Please could now try to land an even tastier prize before the season is out.

Johnson Houghton added: “We really wanted black type as it’s always important and who knows what we will do now as we have won our Group race.

“She’s still very weak and we’ll probably only give her one more run then see. She’s won one Group race but if she was to go on and get placed in a Group One then it’s adding even more value, so we’ll find a race and see.”