O'Brien targets Commonwealth Cup after Havana Anna wins at Naas
Gavin Ryan onboard Havana Anna wins the Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes at Naas. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
Rated 113 and runner-up to recent 1,000 Guineas heroine True Love in the ‘Cheveley Park’, Havana Anna made a successful return to action when scoring a narrow win in the Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes, twin feature on Royal Ascot Trials Day in Naas.
Ridden by Gavin Ryan, the Havana Grey filly travelled strongly and, when needed, toughed it out well to beat Oh Cecilia by a head with Tahcawin a neck away in third as favourite Charles Darwin, having made the running, dropped away tamely, was eased by Ryan Moore, having lost his action, and trailed in last.
Havana Anna is trained by Donnacha O’Brien, who explained, “She wasn’t a big two-year-old, but she’s grown and matured over the winter. That was a lovely start for her and I’m very pleased.
"She travelled very well and Gavin gave her a lovely ride. She got a bit tired, but guts got her through – she tries very hard.
"This was a good starting point and she should improve a lot. She’ll head for the Commonwealth Cup, all being well.”
Successful on her debut over course and distance last month, Victorious (Ryan Moore) landed the Group 3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies 2-Y-O Sprint, sparking a double for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.
The 10/11 favourite, in front soon after the two-furlong pole, displayed a good attitude up the hill, digging deep to hold hugely promising debutante Controlla by a neck, with a six-lengths gap back to the remainder, all previous winners.
Aidan O’Brien stated, “I’m delighted with her. She’s still very green but she’s coming along lovely. Ryan said he followed two but when they died away he was left in front and on her own. She’ll go straight to the ‘Albany’ now.”
The Ballydoyle double was completed when 5/4 favourite Mission Central proved best in the listed finale, the Sole Power Sprint Stakes.
The No Nay Never gelding showed plenty of pace throughout, looked in command two furlongs down and won readily from 40/1 Gazelle D’Or.
"He’s very quick – they did a very quick time (59.3 seconds) in that ground,” said O’Brien, “He’s progressing lovely and will head for the ‘King’s Stand’ (the King Charles III Stakes). Quick ground will help him.”
Ronan Whelan delivered a whopping 1,733/1 double for Henry de Bromhead, highlighted by the narrow victory of 33/1 shot Wannabe Royal in the listed Owenstown Stud Stakes.
The Wootton Bassett filly held off Ballydoyle hope Expanded by a head, prompting her trainer to declare, “I got it completely wrong running her over six furlongs in Cork. Ronan said she wanted seven on a bend and that’s what she got today. And he gave her an amazing ride today – he’s riding out of his skin.
"I’m delighted for her owner-breeders and she’s a valuable filly for the paddocks. She likes an ease and we might go travelling with her.”
The De Bromhead/Whelan double had been initiated when 50/1 shot Totally Puzzled made and held off Elmakaya and Mai Dahlia in the one-mile fillies maiden.
Robson Aguiar, narrowly denied with newcomer Controlla in the Group 3 fillies event, also has Royal Ascot in his sights for his two fillies who dominated the Coolmore Stud Blackbeard 2-Y-O Race.
On her first visit to Naas, Hollie Doyle dictated the pace on Your Song, 25/1 outsider of the five runners, and held off stable companion What A Girl Wants (David Egan) by a neck.
“The winner didn’t handle the soft ground in Cork, but is a good filly and we will try to go to the ‘Queen Mary’ with her. The other filly is more an ‘Albany’ type.”
Trainer Stephen Thorne intends entering Jagged Edge for the Royal Hunt Cup this morning following his impressive win, on his stable debut, in the Alto Equine Building Solutions Handicap.
Last year’s Irish Cambridgeshire winner came from last to first under Jack Kearney to lead a 1-2 for his trainer and Shamrock Thoroughbreds, beating joint-favourite Far From Dandy by almost four lengths.
“He was rocking and rolling for the Irish Lincoln, but scoped poorly the week of the race and we had to sit and wait,” explained Thorne, “But he’s been showing the right signs and was ready to start. We’ll think about Royal Ascot now. And the second horse will probably run on Derby weekend and head for the Galway Mile.”
