Golden first crop Stakes winner

Havana Gold became the first of this year's first season sires to have a Stakes winner with Havana Grey making all to land the competitive Listed Better Odds With Matchbook National Stakes at Sandown today.

Trained by Karl Burke for owners Global Racing Club and Mrs E Burke, this two-year-old colt comfortably broke his maiden last time out at Ayr after finishing second in a novice stakes at Nottingham on his debut.

Kelly Burke, Karl Burke's daughter, said: "The plan is to go to Royal Ascot but we don't know whether to go for the 5f (Norfolk) or 6f (Coventry). The way Havana Grey ran there you would probably say five furlongs but that will be up to the boss. He is such a straightforward horse, all he wants to do is please you. He will definitely be better taking a lead but we didn't want to lose that rail because he had a good draw. He showed second time out he does improve with something to aim for."

A €70,000 yearling at Arqana's August Sale, Havana Grey was bred by Mickley Stud and Lady Lonsdale. He is out of the six-time winning sprinter Blanc de Chine (Dark Angel), a half-sister to seven winners including Fast Act, who also finished second in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes.

Standing on behalf of Qatar Bloodstock at Tweenhills, Havana Gold has had a cracking start with his first crop, with Havana Grey and a further two winners in Havana Star and Marchingontogether, plus the promising Headway who finished second in a competitive maiden at Newbury.

As the most precocious son of Teofilo, Havana Gold, won his two first starts at two and landed the Listed Ascendant Stakes and Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes that season. At three he went on to win the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat.