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Sweet William and Havlin on the mark in Henry II Stakes
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Thu 23 May 2024
Robert Havlin highlighted why he is a jockey in demand when partnering Sweet William to victory in the Chasemore Farm Henry II Stakes at Sandown.
Having claimed Group One glory on board Audience in the Lockinge last weekend, the veteran jockey remained in the spotlight after being booked to ride Ambiente Friendly in the Derby.
He was at his best when cajoling the John and Thady Gosden-trained Sweet William (5-2) into this two-mile Group Three contest late on before getting the better of a battle with Caius Chorister.
Ryan Moore set out to make the running on Metier, with Trueshan and Chesspiece also taking up a prominent position.
The order stayed much the same until the home straight when Trueshan moved on, but Caius Chorister and Sweet William were travelling noticeably better in behind.
That pair went on to pull clear over the final furlong, but it was Sweet William who just came out on top by a head.
Havlin said: "He didn't really travel for most of the race, but the further we went, the more he came on the bridle.
"We put a visor on him today just to switch things up and it was a reversal with Caius Chorister from last time, when she pounced on me.
"I was able to keep an eye on everything in the race from where I was.
"He's a hard horse to get there late, because he's not really got that much of a turn of foot, so I don't know how much he's actually had in the tank there but he's very talented and he got the job done.
"I think the further he goes, the better he goes. He's untested beyond two miles but for me, I definitely think he'll get two and a half miles."
Empress gains National acclaim
Enchanted Empress overcame a tardy start to land the Listed-class Orbital Veterinary Services National Stakes.
Hawaiian was sent off favourite to further enhance the excellent record of Richard Hannon senior and junior in this contest and he set the pace after breaking swiftly.
However, the market leader failed to last home in testing conditions, with the Dominic Ffrench Davis-trained Enchanted Empress staying on strongly under David Egan to beat Rock Hunter by half a length.
The 4-1 winner had edged out the same runner-up by a neck at Ascot last time out to build on an opening Wolverhampton success, and in doing so continued the great early run of results for promising young sire Sergei Prokofiev.
Brocklesby victor Zminiature was another doing all his best work at the finish to take an eyecatching third.
“She’s a tough filly, she just got herself out of trouble as she sat back in the stalls a little bit and missed the kick,” said Ffrench Davis.
“She had the class and speed to get herself out of trouble. We always thought she was an Albany filly, but I think we’re leaning now towards the Queen Mary because she’s got sharper with every run.
“It should be ideal, David was very much of the mind that five furlongs at Ascot was going to be fine.
“She’s got a fantastic attitude, she hadn’t done a lot between her last run and Ascot and here and she was actually a bit fresh today.
“She took a bit of waking up in her first run, but I think she knows what it’s all about now.”
He added of the Amo Racing-owned winner: “Kia (Joorabchian) puts a great investment into the game and he deserves to have a few good ones. It’s great to be able to build up something good enough to go to Royal Ascot.
“She seems to cope with any ground, she won on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, she won goodish ground at Ascot and it didn’t bother her here today. A good horse will go on any ground.”
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