07/10/2022 - COLOGNE, Race 1, Mdn, EUR , 6 1/2f
1st Dam: Hargeisa
2st Dam: Hasay (GB)
2st Dam: Saralea (Fr)
Owner: Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof
Breeder: Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof (Ger)
Trainer: Andreas Wohler
Led out unsold at 140,000gns when attending last year's Tattersalls October Book 1 fixture, Gestut Fahrhof's hitherto untried homebred 2-year-old filly Habana (Ger) (Kingman {GB}-Hargeisa {GSW-Ity, MGSP-Fr & GSP-Ger}, by Speightstown) instead illuminated Cologne's Weidenpescher venue with a scintillating performance over 6 1/2 furlongs in Sunday's HSBS Catering Maiden Preis. Her year-older half-brother Huancayo (Ger) (Frankel {GB}) had provided a telling clue with a three-length debut triumph at Hannover just two days before. Habana was the lone filly in a field of five and was under a firm hold behind all four rivals through the early strides before tanking forward at halfway. Powering to the fore hard on the steel with 350 metres remaining, the well-backed 13-10 favourite settled the contest in an instant when quickening clear passing the furlong marker and accelerated again before gearing down to easily outclass Muhalif (Ger) (Lawman {Fr}) by an impressive 4 3/4 lengths.
“I actually wanted to wait a bit longer before committing and, if anything, we were in front a bit too soon, but she did that very well indeed,” said winning jockey Eddy Pedroza. Habana holds an eyecatching entry in Baden-Baden's G3 Zukunftsrennen, over seven furlongs at the end of August, and connections will take time to ponder options according to Gestut Fahrhof's Simon Stokes, who added, “We already have a high opinion of her and we're now going to discuss plans on how to proceed in a considered manner.”
Habana is the second of three foals produced by G3 Premio Primi Passi victrix Hargeisa (Speightstown), herself the leading representative of Listed Omnibus S. winner Hasay (GB) (Lomitas {GB}). Hasay, in turn, is the leading performer out of Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage victrix and GIII Matchmaker S. runner-up Saralea (Fr) (Sillery), herself a half-sister to the stakes-winning trio Deauville (Fr) (Groom Dancer), La Kaldoun (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}) and Solidoun (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}). Saralea is also kin to the dam of G3 Prix de la Jonchere-winning sire Kaldou Star (GB) (Kaldoun {Fr}) (Caro {Ire}). Hargeisa has a weanling filly by Pinatubo (Ire) to come.
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