Hey Havana

After two poor efforts finishing eleventh, Hey Havana has gradually found his feet, finishing fourth twice and then picking up a couple of placed efforts. It is the kind of trajectory that keeps a trainer patient rather than worried. Geoffrey Harker, who runs a small yard out of Thirkleby in North Yorkshire and has sent out four winners already this season, sounds exactly that — patient. Speaking recently, he acknowledged it has taken a while for things to click for this horse, but described him as a nice horse and said he is hopeful of landing that first win before the year is out. The key phrase from Harker is telling: he thinks Hey Havana will be better next year. That is the trainer's way of saying the horse is still maturing, still learning what racing is actually about.

For a three-year-old, that is not unusual. Some horses need time to grow into their body and their temperament, and only start showing their true ability once they have a handful of races under their belt. Hey Havana raced just a day ago, which means he is very much mid-campaign and the team clearly has not given up on finding the right opportunity. Whether that chance comes this season or whether Harker decides to give him the winter to develop, the foundations of a more interesting story seem to be quietly being laid.