Havana Gold fee more than doubled for 2018 breeding season

Leading first-season sire Havana Gold, who stands at Tweenhills Stud under the Qatar Bloodstock banner, has had his covering fee more than doubled to £15,000 for the 2018 breeding season.

"We have been thrilled with Havana Gold's first runners and he looks tremendous value at £15,000," said Qatar Bloodstock manager David Redvers, who added that the stallion's 2018 book was close to being full.

The 18 winners Havana Gold has supplied so far have included a pair of Group 3 scorers, with Havana Grey - who also finished runner-up in the Group 1 Prix Morny - landing the Molecomb Stakes and Treasuring claiming the Curragh Stakes. Havana Gold also came agonisingly close to supplying a first Royal Ascot winner when Headway was denied by just a head in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes.

The on-course success of his first crop has been directly reflected in the prices his second crop of yearlings have fetched. Notable examples include Shadwell's acquisition of a pair of colts from Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 250,000gns and 190,000gns apiece, which contributed to his yearling sale average of 47,340gns in 2017.

Standing alongside Havana Gold at Tweenhills in 2018 is Hot Streak, whose first crop are currently foals. The Group 2-winning son of Iffraaj will continue to stand at £6,000.

"Hot Streak had outstanding natural speed and his foals look like they will share his precocity and pace," said Redvers. "We've had very good feedback from breeders and can't wait to see them at the sales."

Also having a fee confirmed for 2018 is Charm Spirit, who will stand the upcoming season at €20,000 at Haras de Bonneval as part of the on-going link-up between Qatar Bloodstock and the Aga Khan Studs.

"Charm Spirit's yearlings were very well received, which was no surprise considering he was a triple Group 1 winner," said Redvers. "We are expecting him to make a big impact with his first crop of runners."

Among those first two-year-olds will be a half-brother to Qemah, who went the way of Shadwell for €500,000, while other powerful operations like Coolmore and Juddmonte also secured Charm Spirit yearlings, going 210,000gns and 130,000gns respectively.

Charm Spirit will return to Tweenhills Stud for the 2019 breeding season.

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