Havana Hurricane

The broader record backs up the impression of a serious talent. From 8 races, he has won 2 and finished in the frame 6 times — a win rate of 25%, or roughly 1 in every 4 races. That level of consistency is hard to achieve, especially when you are regularly competing in Class 1 and Class 2 races, the top tier of British racing. His first win came at Goodwood in May 2025, a Class 2, and he followed it up just six weeks later with the Ascot success. His recent sequence reads 1-2-3-4-6-3 in reverse, which tells the story of a young horse finding his feet before clicking into gear at the very highest level.

His regular partner in the saddle is Charles Bishop, and together they have won 2 of their 7 races — nearly 1 in every 3. That kind of chemistry between jockey and horse matters, and Johnson Houghton's praise for Bishop's ride at Ascot was pointed: he waited, stayed patient, and let the horse's natural speed do the work. That speed is the key to everything. Johnson Houghton has been clear that Havana Hurricane is a five-furlong horse — sharp, quick, and at his best on fast, dry ground. When the ground came up wet at Newbury, she noted it "just dents his turn of foot," which is a polite way of saying the conditions blunt his biggest weapon.

What comes next is genuinely exciting. Johnson Houghton has been weighing up a run at the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood or the Nunthorpe at York — one of the most prestigious sprints in the calendar. Her yard has already sent out 42 winners this season, so she knows what a good horse looks like. The fact that she is considering the Nunthorpe suggests she thinks this one could be something special. She said as much at Ascot: "I think he's pretty special." With a Royal Ascot win already on the CV at three, it is hard to argue with her.