Havana Gold celebrates second 2yo winner

Havana Grey became the second winner for Tweenhills' first-season sire Havana Gold when winning a five-furlong maiden at Ayr today.

After showing brilliant speed for a long way at Nottingham on his debut - when he was sent off a well-backed favourite - Havana Grey, favourite again, travelled smoothly before streaking clear as he went one place better in a similar race at the Scottish track.

His trainer, Karl Burke commented after the race, "Havana Grey is up there with my best two-year-olds and I would have run him in the National Stakes if he'd won on his debut. I think he's a Royal Ascot horse and he could step up to six furlongs for the Coventry."

Havana Grey becomes the latest Royal Ascot prospect for Havana Gold, after Havana Star, who overcame inexperience when making a successful debut in a five-furlong maiden at Beverley earlier this month, and Headway, who was beaten just a neck in a similar race at Newbury on his first start. Havana Grey is also one of several of Havana Gold's progeny entered in the Listed Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar later in the season.

Havana Grey is owned by Global Racing Club and Mrs Elaine Burke. He was bred by Mickley Stud and Lady Lonsdale out of the six-time winning sprinter Blanc de Chine and changed hands for €70,000 at Arqana's August Yearling Sale. Congratulations to all connections.

The sire's next runners are two Havana Gold fillies declared to run at Leicester tomorrow, with Ghepardo (who finished third on her debut) and Marchingontogether both scheduled to run in the 6.00pm race.


View the video here, courtesy of TDN and sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.