Eve Johnson Houghton celebrated her second Listed Windsor Castle Stakes success after Havana Hurricane delivered an irresistible late surge under Charlie Bishop.
Runner-up in the Woodcote Stakes last time out, the drop back to five furlongs proved ideal as he powered home to beat Dickensian (20/1) by a length and a half. Azizam (7/1) was involved in a dead-heat for third with Rogue Legend (4/1).
An eye-catching debut winner at Goodwood, Havana Hurricane follows in the footsteps of another son of Havana Gold, Chipotle, who won this race for the same trainer-jockey combination in 2021.
Johnson Houghton said: “I said to the owners, win lose or draw, he cost you 9,000 guineas. You have made more than that already and you’re here to play. We have had a great day, but I think Havana Hurricane is pretty special. He won really easily.
“Tom [Clemmit, groom] is in charge of the bottom yard, which is where all the two-year-old colts are, and he does this horse and has done a great job with him. The horse is pretty laidback, pretty easy, but my staff do a great job and they’ve done a great job with him.
“Charlie got slated for his ride at Epsom, unfairly, and he gave him an absolute corker; he waited and was incredibly patient. I could not be more proud of my jockey.”
Bishop said: “Havana Hurricane is a lovely horse. He did not stay six furlongs at Epsom. I was very confident coming here today, which is a very strange thing to say coming to Ascot.
“He is a smart horse and quickened up very well. I felt he was the best horse in the race at Epsom and, if he had got home, he would have won. With a stiff five here, the race was made for him. You’ve got to get a bit of luck in running, and I did.
“Eve is magic to ride for. She has a lot of trust in me and leaves me to ride on feel. I can’t thank her enough – three Royal Ascot winners. One is the sort of thing you dream of, so to have three is incredible. I have waited a few years for this one.
“Eve is magic at buying these horses and training them. She does all the hard work, while I just do the steering. It is a lovely job to have. That one is for Fulke [Johnson Houghton]. He was amazing to all of us and this one is for him.”
Feature image: Havana Hurricane after winning the Windsor Castle Stakes (credit: Megan Coggin)
