Helmet, Europe’s leading first-season sire, added a fourth winner to his record in very pleasing fashion on 26 April when his son Kreb’s Cycle took the five-furlong maiden at Bath by a length from his paternal half-brother Havelock.
Sent off as odds-on favourite having been beaten just a quarter of a length on his debut at the same track 11 days ago, Kreb’s Cycle (who is trained by Richard Hannon) was settled just behind early leader New Trier before he was asked for his effort once entering the home straight. His racecourse experience provided him with the edge over Mark Johnston’s debutant Havelock, who put up a tremendous first run to finish second. The pair were almost four lengths clear of the third-placed horse.
Kreb’s Cycle was bred by Michael Fennessy and is the first foal to race out of the winning Nayef mare La Noe, herself a daughter of Stakes winner Snow Gretel (a half-sister to Snow Ridge).
Helmet opened his winners’ account in tremendous style late last month, when his daughter Boater won by seven lengths at Kempton, followed by a six-length victory for fellow Helmet filly Chupalla in the very next race. On 13 April, his son Orewa became his third winner from as many runners with a decisive three-length victory at Beverley.
