Purple patch continues for Teofilo

Havana Beat lands the Coral Marathon to become the third Stakes winner this week for his sire

Teofilo has enjoyed a hugely successful week, with Rio Tigre landing the Listed Derby de l’Ouest on Monday, shortly followed by Tobann’s victory in the G3 Brownstown Stakes on Wednesday. On 5 July, Havana Beat made it three Stakes winners inside six days for his sire when finishing fast to take the Listed Coral Marathon on Eclipse day at Sandown.

Andrew Balding’s charge was settled in second position under David Probert and as the runners began to quicken for home, he momentarily looked beaten but found more in the closing stages to sweep past Repeater and take the two-mile contest by a head.

Bred by Mrs Natalie Cleary, Havana Beat is one of three winners out of the Desert Prince mare Sweet Home Alabama – a half-sister to King's Best’s G1 winner Proclamation.

Earlier in the day, Teofilo’s Irish Derby winner Trading Leather looked to be returning to his best when finding only Mukhadram (Shamardal) too good in the G1 Eclipse Stakes. Teofilo has now sired 14 Black type performers so far this year, including G1 winner Sonntag and Oaks second Tarfasha.