The Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap could be the prize awaiting Havana following the three-year-old’s win in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Doomben on Saturday.
The Paul Messara-trained Havana finally lived up to his big reputation by downing Into The Red by one length in the 1350-metre feature.
Dothraki was only a half head away third.
Messara revealed he had always held Havana in high esteem but it wasn’t until he was gelded that his real ability shone through.
“There were some big wraps on him but he didn’t realise his ability until we gelded him,” Messara said.
Messara gambled by backing-up Havana only seven days after the son of Starcraft finished second to Agitate in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate at Doomben last week.
“It was the first time we’ve backed him up and you never know how they handle it until you try them.
“He’ll go into the Queensland Guineas next and then we’ll see about the Stradbroke.”
The Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1400m) will be run at Eagle Farm on May 31, a week before the $1 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on the same track.
Messara conceded Havana would need to win the Queensland Guineas to make the Stradbroke Handicap.
Winning jockey Luke Nolen has always had a good opinion of Havana after finishing third on him in the Group 2 Todman Stakes at Rosehill in March last year.
“I’ve ridden him once before when he was a real juvenile,” Nolen said.
“I liked him then and since they’ve cut him he’s a lot better.
“He’s got a good cruising speed and he will be effective up to 1600 metres.”
Havana is likely for a rematch with both placegetters Into The Red and Dothraki who also are being aimed at the Queensland Guineas.
Jockey Chris Munce believes Into The Red would not be out of place in the Guineas and was delighted with the sprinter’s effort.
“It was a super run and 1400m of the Guineas is not beyond him,” he said.
Trainer Gerald Ryan forecast further improvement from Dothraki and rated it a super trial for the Queensland Guineas.
– Racing Queensland
