Havana Gold gets first Group 1 winner as a sire as Grey flies at Curragh

David Redvers has described Havana Grey's breakthrough Group 1 win in Sunday's Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes as "incredibly important" for the sprinter's sire, the Tweenhills Stud-based Havana Gold.

Second at the highest level in the Prix Morny last year, Havana Grey made the breakthrough at the elite level on the second day of Irish Champions Weekend, making almost all of the running to score by half a length from Pivotal's Son Of Rest.

David Redvers, fresh from celebrating the success of Qatar Racing's Roaring Lion in Saturday's Irish Champion Stakes, was delighted with the display of Havana Grey and paid tribute to the sprinter's connections.

Click here to watch Havana Grey's win

“It’s always hugely important to get that first Group 1 win," said Redvers. "He was so unlikely not to get it in the Morny so he’s got his just desserts, which is great. It’s particularly good news for his breeder Richard Kent and his support of the stallions - I’m thrilled for him.

“That breakthrough Group 1 win is always incredibly important as it proves the stallion is as good as a stallion as he was a racehorse, so it’s a wonderful thing."

The stallion, a son of Teofilo who won the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat during his own racing career, stood for a fee of £15,000 this year and has sired five stakes winners in total.

Redvers added: “Havana Gold covered 180 mares and was extremely busy this year and will be for several years to come I would think, because next season breeders will be using him following his biggest and best book.”