Speedy juvenile Havana Grey wins a second Sandown Listed race for trainer Karl Burke
The two-year-old was a good winner of the five furlong Dragon Stakes, having previously won the National Stakes over course and distance earlier in the season.
HAVANA GREY set the record straight in the Allied World Dragon Stakes at Sandown.
Karl Burke's youngster was disappointing in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, but showed his true colours in this Listed affair over five furlongs.
Jockey PJ McDonald was keen to get into a sweet early rhythm aboard Havana Grey, who bounced out of stall two under a 3lb penalty.
Windsor Castle Stakes runner-up Roussel also travelled kindly and made his move two furlongs out.
But just as it looked like the 5-4 favourite would haul back Havana Grey, McDonald's partner kicked on again and ended up winning by a length and a quarter.
To Wafij finished third, another neck in arrears of Havana Grey, who won the Listed National Stakes over this course and distance in May.
McDonald said: "He's done it very well. The horse has made a liar out of me because I always said to Karl he'd be better held up as he's got an electric turn of foot."
Burke was absent - as he was when Havana Grey won the National Stakes - but was represented by his daughter, Kelly, who said: "We are really pleased. Ascot was a bit disappointing, but it is Ascot and these things happen. He seemed to be on the wrong side.
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"We were confident coming here and he proved what we always thought of him. He has got options at Goodwood and the option in France (Prix Robert Papin) and he will have those two options."
She added: "That seems to be the way to ride him. We thought he might be better being held on to, as at home that's how we've been riding him, but on the track it seems to be different."
Speaking from his North Yorkshire base, Burke pointed towards Goodwood as his preferred option.
He said: "He's a very good horse. He's got a great cruising speed but he can also quicken off it.
"He's just got that fantastic turn of foot and I'm really happy he's shown it again.
"I'm very keen that we go for the Molecomb at Goodwood.
"The owners were thinking about the Prix Robert Papin, but I think the five furlongs of the Molecomb is perfect, rather than travel all the way to France with him."