Veteran jockey Robert Havlin ended a 30-year wait for a first Group One success when Commissioning powered home to win the bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket on Friday.
The 49-year-old has long been credited with playing a huge part at Clarehaven Stables, first for John Gosden and more recently in his partnership with his son, Thady.
An impressive winner of the Rockfel Stakes just two weeks ago, Commissioning was sent off the 8/13 favourite to remain unbeaten and cement her 1000 Guineas claims.
Having travelled sweetly for the first half of the contest, she came under pressure two furlongs out as Karl Burke’s Novakai made a bold bid from the front.
But Commissioning relished the step up in trip and her most impressive furlong was her last, as she ultimately ran out a clear-cut one-length winner. Novakai’s stablemate Bright Diamond was third.