Windsor Castle Stakes
QuinnBet
Listed, Ascot 18:10
£110,000 guaranteed,
2yo only,
5f, Class 1    
Wednesday 18th June 2025

1 Havana Hurricane 7/1
2 Dickensian 20/1
3 Azizam 7/1
3 Rogue Legend 4/1
23 ran NR: Kansas Distances: 1½l, ½l, dht
Time: 1m 0.06s (slow by 0.56s)

Lightning has struck twice for Eve Johnson Houghton in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes, as Havana Hurricane followed the well-worn path of 2021 winner Chipotle, delivering a withering late burst under Charlie Bishop to claim Royal Ascot glory once again.

The colt, a son of Havana Gold and a 9,000-guinea purchase, was cutting back in trip after finishing second in the Woodcote at Epsom—and the sharper five furlongs at the royal meeting proved tailor-made. Bishop, full of quiet confidence beforehand, bided his time before pouncing late, sweeping past the field to win going away by a length and a half from Dickensian, with Azizam and Rogue Legend inseparable for third in a dead-heat.

It was a ride full of poise and patience, one that more than atoned for the criticism Bishop faced at Epsom—and how fitting that redemption came on the biggest stage of all.

“I told the owners, win or lose, you’ve already had value for money,” Johnson Houghton reflected in typically candid style. “But this horse… he’s pretty special. He won that very easily.”

It’s now three Royal Ascot winners for Bishop, and the bond with his trainer was plain to see. “He didn’t stay the six at Epsom, I knew that,” said the jockey, glowing in the aftermath. “Coming back to a stiff five here—perfect. I actually felt strangely confident coming into today, which is rare at Ascot!”

The formula of trust and intuition between the pair shone through once again. “Eve is magic to ride for,” said Bishop. “She trusts me to go on feel—and that makes all the difference. This one’s for Fulke [Johnson Houghton]. He meant the world to us all.”

Behind the headlines, the story of hard work carried through to the yard. “Tom [Clemmit] runs the bottom yard—he looks after the two-year-old colts, including this lad,” said Eve. “The horse is pretty easy to deal with, but the team have done a brilliant job.”

On a day when the heavens threatened rain, it was Havana Hurricane who delivered the thunderclap—another classy juvenile unearthed by Johnson Houghton, and another perfectly-timed strike at the royal meeting from a trainer-jockey partnership that simply clicks when it matters most.

Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed)
£110,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 5f, Class 1
23 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (8)    Havana Hurricane 2 9-5 Eve Johnson Houghton Charles Bishop 7/1
2 (17) 1½ Dickensian 2 9-5 Kevin Ryan Shane Gray 20/1
3 (23) ½ Azizam 2 9-5 K R Burke Sam James 7/1
4 (6) dht Rogue Legend 2 9-5 P Twomey W J Lee 4/1
5 (4) nk Kamakameleon 2 9-5 Dylan Cunha Tom Marquand 80/1
6 (19) hd Nuevo Slovo 2 9-5 John S O'Donoghue Colin Keane 125/1
7 (22) 1 Utmost Respect 2 9-5 Richard Fahey Oisin Orr 10/1
8 (7) nk Old Is Gold 2 9-5 Andrew Balding James Doyle 7/2F
9 (1) 1 Shaman Champion 2 9-5 Richard Hughes Billy Loughnane 14/1
10 (20) hd Wyle Cop 2 9-5 Jack Jones Dylan Hogan 50/1
11 (14) 1 Tough Critic 2 9-5 George Weaver Flavien Prat 10/1
12 (21) ½ Better And Better 2 9-5 Adrian Paul Keatley P J McDonald 40/1
13 (18) nse Sovereign Spell 2 9-5 Raphael E Freire Rossa Ryan 33/1
14 (9) ½ Gaga Mate 2 9-5 George Scott Callum Shepherd 33/1
15 (11) nk Gorey Gold 2 9-5 Jonathan Portman Rob Hornby 33/1
16 (12) nk Rogue Supremacy 2 9-5 David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope
17 (13) ½ Jan Steen 2 9-5 K R Burke David Egan 11/1
18 (3) 1½ Ardisia 2 9-5 Hugo Palmer Oisin Murphy 28/1
19 (5) nk First Approach 2 9-5 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 33/1
20 (2) ½ Oasis Diamond 2 9-0 Michael & David Easterby David Allan 150/1
21 (15) 2½ Call Me By My Name 2 9-5 James Horton Adam Farragher 200/1
22 (10) 6½ Logi Bear 2 9-5 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 20/1
23 (16) 4½ Beach Partee 2 9-5 William Knight Neil Callan 125/1
NR 13 (24) Kansas 2 9-5 A P O'Brien NON RUNNER

SureWIn

WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES WINNERS

YR/DATE WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2024 AIN'T NOBODY Kevin Ryan Jamie Spencer J Blackburn & J Matthews 2-9-05 5/1
2023 BIG EVS Michael Appleby Jason Hart RP Racing Ltd 2-9-05 20/1
2022 LITTLE BIG BEAR Aidan O'Brien Ryan Moore D Smith, S Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg 2-9-05 6/5F
2021 CHIPOTLE Eve Johnson Houghton Charles Bishop The Woodway 20 2-9-03 22/1
2020 TACTICAL Andrew Balding James Doyle The Queen 2-9-03 7/2F
2019 SOUTHERN HILLS Aidan O’Brien Ryan Moore Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith 2-9-03 7/1
2018 SOLDIER'S CALL Archie Watson Daniel Tudhope Clipper Logistics 2-9-03 12/1
2017 SOUND AND SILENCE Charlie Appleby William Buick Godolphin 2-9-03 16/1
2016 ARDAD John Gosden Robert Havlin Saeed Abdullah Al Nabooda 2-9-03 20/1
2015 WASHINGTON DC Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith 2-9-03 5/1
14/17/06 HOOTENANNY Wesley Ward USA Victor Espinoza Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 2-9-03 7/2F
13/18/06 EXTORTIONIST Olly Stevens Johnny Murtagh Qatar Racing Limited 2-9-03 16/1
12/19/06 HOTOTO Kevin Ryan Phillip Makin Kenneth Macpherson 2-9-03 14/1
11/14/06 FREDERICK ENGELS David Brown Johnny Murtagh Qatar Bloodstock 2-9-03 9/4F
10/15/06 MARINE COMMANDO Richard Fahey Paul Hanagan Mike Wynne 2-9-03 9/2
09/16/06 STRIKE THE TIGER Wesley Ward USA John Velazquez Mitch Dutko & Ray Sainz 2-9-03 33/1
08/17/06 FLASHMAN’S PAPERS John Best Steve Drowne David Gorton 2-9-03 100/1
07/19/06 DRAWNFROMTHEPAST Jamie Osborne Martin Dwyer Elaine and Martyn Booth 2-9-03 9/1
06/20/06 ELHAMRI Sylvester Kirk Declan McDonogh Norman Ormiston 2-9-03 20/1
*05/18/06 TITUS ALONE Bryan Smart Kevin Darley Hintlesham Racing 2-8-11 11/4
04/15/06 CHATEAU ISTANA Nick Littmoden Tom Queally Ivan Allan 2-8-13 12/1
03/21/06 HOLBORN Mick Channon Steve Drowne Sheikh Mohammed 2-8-13 5/2F
02/21/06 REVENUE Michael Bell Johnny Murtagh Royal Ascot Racing Club 2-8-11 14/1
01/22/06 IRONY Jamie Osborne Pat Eddery John Nicholls Ltd/Mobley Homes 2-8-11 8/1
00/23/06 AUTUMNAL Brian Meehan Pat Eddery Paul and Jenny Green 2-8-08 4/1
99/18/06 KALINDI Mick Channon Richard Quinn Barry Taylor 2-8-06 14/1
98/19/06 FLANDERS Tim Easterby Lindsay Charnock Jean Connew 2-8-10 15/8F
97/20/06 ASFURAH Saeed bin Suroor Richard Hills Godolphin 2-8-06 7/1
96/21/06 DAZZLE Michael Stoute Kieren Fallon Cheveley Park Stud 2-8-05 7/2F
95/23/06 KUANTAN Paul Cole Richard Quinn Sultan Ahmad Shah 2-8-11 11/1
94/17/06 BRAVE MUSIC Paul Cole Richard Quinn Lord Portman 2-8-11 9/1
93/18/06 GREAT DEEDS Mick Channon Richard Quinn Dubai Racing Syndicate 2-8-06 10/1
92/19/06 SATANK Bill Watts Pat Eddery Robert Sangster 2-8-13 7/1
91/21/06 ISDAR Tom Jones Richard Hills Hamdan Al Maktoum 2-8-13 8/1
90/22/06 GIPSY FIDDLER Jonjo O’Neill Pat Eddery G B Davidson 2-9-06 7/2
89/23/06 PHARAOH’S DELIGHT Peter Hudson Pat Eddery Al-Deera Bloodstock Holdings Ltd 2-8-08 11/2
88/17/06 BARRY’S GAMBLE Tommy Fairhurst Pat Eddery North Cheshire Trading & Storage Ltd 2-9-06 5/2
87/19/06 SPACE CRUISER Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Stavros Niarchos 2-9-06 8/11F
86/20/06 CAROL’S TREASURE Barry Hills Brent Thomson Carol Lane 2-9-04 6/5F
85/21/06 ATALL ATALL Martin Pipe Paul Eddery A Millward 2-9-04 12/1
84/22/06 SEA FALCON Peter Makin Steve Cauthen Jim Brewer 2-9-04 4/1
83/17/06 DEFECTING DANCER Henry Cecil Lester Piggott Sheikh Mohammed 2-9-04 6/4F
82/18/06 PRINCE REYMO Robert Armstrong Steve Cauthen R Emmitt 2-9-04 6/4F
81/19/06 TENDER KING John Sutcliffe Philip Waldron Esal Commodities Ltd 2-9-04 6/1
80/20/06 COOLINEY PRINCE Paddy Prendergast IRE George McGrath J O’Malley 2-9-04 9/1
79/22/06 ROLLAHEAD Jeremy Hindley Joe Mercer Bobby McAlpine 2-9-04 13/2
78/23/06 BLUE REFRAIN John Benstead Brian Rouse Mrs L Wood 2-9-04 16/1
77/17/06 TARDOT Michael Kauntze IRE Willie Carson Mrs Michael Kauntze 2-9-04 15/2