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Will Havana Hurricane Blow Them Away in the Weatherbys Super Sprint?

This coming Saturday presents a varied menu for armchair racing fans. The next Classic of the year takes centre stage as leading 1m4f fillies head to the Curragh for the Irish Oaks. Newbury provides pattern class support with the Listed Steventon Stakes and Group 3 Hackwood Stakes, while the focus switches to Market Rasen for the summer jumping highlight of the Summer Plate.

All of the above add to yet another cracking afternoon. However, the most distinctive contest arrives in the shape of the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes. Making its debut at Newbury in 1991, this 5f contest is restricted to two-year-old performers from the mid to lower end of the pricing ladder. Only those who fetched £65,000 or less at the sales may apply. The sales price determines the weight to be carried – the higher the sales price, the higher the weight.

The Weatherbys Super Sprint isn’t the only race of this type in the UK, but it is the richest, with £250,000 in total prize money up for grabs. For punters, the race presents one of the trickier puzzles of the season to unravel. However, the odds compilers have had no trouble identifying the most likely winner.

Windsor Castle Hero Havana Crack at Another Big Prize

Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes 2025 Betting

Fresh from success in the Windsor Castle Stakes, the Eve Johnson-Houghton-trained Havana Hurricane arrives as the top-rated runner in the field with a mark of 100. Having cost “only” 9,000 Guineas at the sales, he receives weight from over half of his rivals. Those advantageous terms haven’t been missed by the bookmakers, who make him a general 2/1 favourite for the fast and furious event.


If repeating the level of his 1½-length victory at Ascot, the son of Havana Gold might be hard to beat. Two from three in his career to date, he is unbeaten at this trip, with his only defeat coming when second over 6f at Epsom. A step up to Group 3 level would be the natural progression, making the Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood a realistic alternative to this assignment. However, connections may struggle to resist taking a shot at this valuable pot with their in-form sprinter.

Millman Eyes Third Win

First successful with Lord Kintyre in 1997, Rod Millman landed the prize for a second time with Bettys Hope in 2019. This year, the Devonshire handler looks set to be represented by the Supremacy filly Anthelia.

Like Havana Hurricane, Anthelia has already scored in Listed company. That victory came when causing a 25/1 shock in the National Stakes at Sandown in May.

She couldn’t back that up when fifth in the 6f Empress Stakes last time, but ran well enough under a 3lb penalty, over a distance which may have stretched her. Back down to the minimum distance, she’s second best in the market at a general 5/1.

Burke to Shuffle to Success?

Yorkshire-based Karl Burke is a trainer to fear in the juvenile division but has yet to land this prize. Perhaps Alli Shuffle could be the filly to put that right. Making her debut in April, the daughter of A’Ali rattled off a hat-trick in the space of a month.

Stepped up in class and sent to France for her next assignment, she ran a cracker to finish second in the Group 3 Prix du Bois Longines at Chantilly. She wasn’t as effective in a Listed event at Deauville next time but boasts rock-solid claims on those earlier efforts.

Our Cody

Having stunned the racing world last weekend, could Richard Hughes do it again? Seven days on from saddling No Half Measures to become the longest-priced winner in July Cup history, the champion jockey-turned-trainer takes aim at this prize.

Snapped up for a bargain £3,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearlings sale, Our Cody has already earned more than three times that amount in prize money. Second to the useful Venetian Lace at Chelmsford in June, she arrives on the back of an easy 3¼-length success in a Windsor maiden.

Her form is not yet on par with Havana Hurricane, Anthelia or Alli Shuffle, but bottom weight of 8st2lb gives her a chance. If Our Cody fails to deliver, the hat-trick-seeking Nifty adds a strong second string to the Hughes bow.

Hannon Hungry for More

Richard Hannon Sr. helped devise the concept of this race and promptly saddled the winner on a record-setting seven occasions. Since Richard Hannon Sr. retired, his son has stepped into his shoes with aplomb.

Successful with Tiggy Wiggy (2014), Ginger Nut (2018), Happy Romance (2020), and Gubbass (2021), Richard Hannon Jr. has four among the current entries in 2025. Corniche Girl and Shams are among the rank outsiders in the early market. If Hannon is to take a step closer to his father’s record with a fifth win, Raakeb and Logi Bear look the most likely. The former finished only a length behind Havana Hurricane at Epsom, while the latter would take a drop in class from the Group 2 Superlative Stakes.

Others to note include the hat-trick-seeking Cotai Belle, from the yard of three-time Super Sprint winner Richard Fahey; Irish Fighter, who caught the eye in the Norfolk Stakes; and Kamakameleon, who renews rivalry with the favourite, having finished fifth in the Windsor Castle.

The market and weights suggest Havana Hurricane is the one to beat, but will it work out that way? Saturday 3:30pm at Newbury is the time and place to find out.