Havana strikes Gold

Havana Gold has looked like a very promising performer for his sire Teofilo since winning on his racecourse debut back in June, and on 27 September he confirmed himself as a very smart juvenile indeed when winning the G3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes, run over seven furlongs at Newmarket.

Settled off the pace under Richard Hughes, Havana Gold quickened impressively once he met the rising ground and won more easily than the length and a half margin would suggest. Glean (by first-season sire Raven's Pass) challenged well in the closing stages to take third.

This was his fourth career victory from five start (with his only defeat owing to a slipped saddle in a Listed contest at Deauville). He won the Listed Ascendant Stakes on his most recent start and holds entries in both the Dewhurst and the Racing Post Trophy.

Bred by Sir Eric Parker, Havana Gold is out of the dual G3 winner Jessica’s Dream (Desert Style), herself a half-sister to G1 performer Majors Cast.

Teofilo is sire of seven Black type performers so far this year (three of whom are two-year-olds), including G3 winner and Irish Derby third Light Heavy, and Star Stakes winner Roz, who like Havana Gold is from his second crop.