Havana strikes gold at Haydock

Havana Gold avenged recent disappointment to justify favouritism and land the Listed Ascendant Stakes over a mile at Haydock.

The two-year-old son of Teofilo had looked a sure-fire winner when contesting the Listed Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville on his previous start only for his saddle to slip, causing jockey Ryan Moore to suffer a nasty fall which meant he missed the winning ride on Excelebration (Exceed And Excel) in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois later on the card.

No such misfortune this time around meant that the Richard Hannon-trained colt took his record to three wins from four starts. He holds entries later in the season for the G1 Racing Post Trophy and G1 Dewhurst Stakes, the latter won last year by another Teofilo colt, Parish Hall, and also by Teofilo himself.

Havana Gold is one of eight stakes winners for Teofilo, including Light Heavy, who lines up for this evening’s G1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.