The Rab Havlin Blog – FansBet - (2025)

The high and lows of the racing world have rarely been more apparent than this week, one which brought me a suspension courtesy of the Windsor stewards on Monday night, quickly followed by a double at Kempton on Wednesday with victories on Cressida and Illumined for the boss, John Gosden.

Looking ahead, our stable is hoping for some more good luck in prominent Group races this coming weekend.

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Last Sunday Coronet gained a deserved Group 1 success with Frankie on board in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. She seems to have been chasing good horses forever, but on this occasion,  she got a dream run through to gain a result which was satisfying for all the team, especially with the yard’s Lah Ti Dar making the frame to make it a 1-3 in the race.

For Lah Ti Dar’s part, the early pace was probably a bit slow and the ground quick enough, but nonetheless she ran a blinder and we were proud of them both.

On the same card, Mehdaayih got back on track under Frankie with a comfortable performance to take the Group 2 Prix de Malleret.

Frankie rang me straight after and said she got a bit unbalanced, just like in the Oaks at Epsom, the difference being she was a bit more streetwise on this occasion.

This weekend it’s the turn of our superstar mare, Enable, building up to her return to the track in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park (Sat, 3.35pm).

She’s in great form and we are all excited to get her back on the racecourse. I rode her in her final piece of work and she’s giving all the right signals she’s ready to get rolling again.

The drop in trip to a mile and a quarter on quick ground will suit.

We’ve also got Too Darn Hot to look forward to in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville (2.52pm).

He’s been running well at a very high level without getting his head in front so far in 2019, posting placed efforts in the Dante, Irish Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes.

This test represents a drop in distance to seven furlongs, the journey over which he took the Dewhurst back in October.

Maybe we’ve been getting his trip wrong so far this season, so running him over the seven will show us. He’s certainly got enough speed in his homework, and gave me a great feel when I rode him in his last piece of fast exercise, quickening nicely clear of his lead horse. Fingers crossed.

On a personal level, just as I did this time last week, I’ve got a very busy Friday upcoming, featuring five rides for four different trainers split across two meetings. This is how they look:

1.50 Sandown – Racing Staff Week Handicap (5f)

I begin my day on Aamanda Perrett’s Tinto, a very consistent horse who I won on at Kempton Park back in October. I hope he can run his usual solid race and be there or thereabouts. He’s a horse you have to hang onto so a stiff five furlongs suits him well.

3.25 Sandown – Gala Stakes (1m 2f)

I’m back on my old pal Royal Line for the boss in this mile and a quarter listed race, the horse upon whom I won the November Handicap at Doncaster last time out. Quicker ground and a 237-day absence are obvious question marks, but he’s joint top rated in a field of seven and gets three pounds from Elarqam. I hope he can run a good race in what looks a quality contest.

6.00 Chelmsford – Handicap (7f)

I switch to Chelmsford for their evening card and will be on Vallachy for William Muir in this seven furlong handicap. I can’t say I know too much about him and haven’t ridden him previously, but hopefully he can show a bit more than in three runs to date now switched to a handicap.

7.35 Chelmsford – Fillies’ Novice Stakes (1m)

John Gosden puts me up on Gentlewoman in this mile fillies’ novice. She was second and ran a cracker for me on debut back in April, plus gave me a good spin when third at Wolverhampton last month. Up in distance here to a mile for the first time, she does tend to be quite keen in her races, so the plan is to step her up gradually.

8.40 Chelmsford – Racing Staff Week Handicap (1m 6f)

I’m on the oldest horse in the race in this mile andthree quarter stayers’ handicap, Roger Ingram’s veteran Awesome Rock. Back on the Flat for the first time in 12 months, he might not have the best strike-rate but is a horse I’ve been placed on a couple of times before at huge prices. Hopefully he can find a spark as he returns from a break.

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