One of the stories of the 2024 flat season has been the progress made by a new potential powerhouse on the ownership scene. Having hinted at forcing their way to the top table in Britain during 2023, Wathnan Racing has exploded into life in 2024.
Striking twice at the 2023 Royal Ascot Festival, with Courage Mon Ami in the Gold Cup and Gregory in the Queen’s Vase, Wathnan promptly doubled that tally in 2024, courtesy of the wins of Leovanni (Queen Mary Stakes), Shareholder (Norfolk Stakes), Haatem (Jersey Stakes), and English Oak (Buckingham Palace Stakes).
Owned by The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, this emerging force is already impressing with its pedigree expertise and eye for purchases – buying up proven performers and unearthing a selection of gems whose appeal may not be obvious at first glance.
Having enjoyed such success at the Royal Meeting, Wathnan now turns its attention to the Qatar Goodwood Festival (aka Glorious Goodwood), which – unsurprisingly, given the sponsors – they place on an equal footing with the Berkshire showpiece in June.
All Guns Blazing on Day One
The 2024 edition of the Qatar Goodwood Festival kicks off on Tuesday, 30th June, and if Wathnan don’t pick up a win on the opening day, it won’t be for the lack of trying. With the final fields beginning to take shape, the following nine stars are reportedly primed and ready to go on the opening day.
Real Gain – 1:50 Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap
Having won three of his first five career starts, this son of Profitable was snapped up by Wathnan Racing in June 2024, following a low-key seasonal return in the Spring Cup at Newbury. Among the more fancied contenders for the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot, he barely went a yard that day to finish 28th of 29. He will need to step up markedly on that effort, but a two-pound drop in the handicap may aid his cause.
The Strikin Viking – 2:25 HKJC World Pool Vintage Stakes
This late addition to the Wathnan squadron was plucked from the yard of Kevin Ryan on 24th July. An easy winner on debut at York, he ran a cracker to go down by just half a length in the Group 2 Railway Stakes at The Curragh last time. Stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time on his debut for Hamad Al-Jehani, he heads up a strong team in the Vintage Stakes.
Electrolyte – 2:25 HKJC World Pool Vintage Stakes
Electrolyte came even closer to Group 2 glory than The Strikin Viking in his Coventry Stakes outing. First of 14 in his group, he agonisingly lost out by just a nose to Rashabar on the opposite side of the course. Not so good when fifth in the July Stakes last time, he also has his first crack at seven furlongs here.
Catalyse – 2:25 HKJC World Pool Vintage Stakes
Rounding out the Vintage trio is Coventry Stakes 12th, Catalyse. This son of Starspangledbanner has work to do on that effort, but he didn’t help his chance when blowing the start and was only beaten just over four lengths at the line. Previously impressive on debut at Hamilton, he shouldn’t be dismissed on the back of one subpar effort.
English Oak – 3:00 HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes
Added to the Wathnan Royal Ascot team in the week preceding the festival, this Ed Walker colt immediately repaid his new owners with a high-class display to land the Buckingham Palace Stakes over this seven-furlong trip. He looked like a Group horse masquerading as a handicapper that day and gets the chance to prove it here.
Gregory – 3:35 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes
In common with English Oak, Gregory was a late addition to the Royal Ascot team, acquired in the week leading up to the 2023 edition. And just like English Oak, he delivered when staying on powerfully to claim the Queen’s Vase over 1m6f. He’s zero from four since, but perhaps this return to the scene of his finest hour may spark him back to life.
Carrados – 4:45 British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes
A £360,000 purchase at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up sale, this son of Mehmas has yet to hit the heights. All worked up when a beaten favourite over five furlongs on debut, he fared better when second in a six-furlong Goodwood Novice last time. He tackles the same track and trip here and may improve on his first start since a gelding operation.
Forever Blue – 5:20 Ridgeview Fillies’ Handicap
Alongside Real Gain, this Ralph Beckett filly was one of the Wathnan disappointments at Royal Ascot, managing only 26th of 30 in the Sandringham Stakes. Nicely bred, being by Blue Point and out of a Listed winning mare, this looks an easier assignment on paper, and she may bounce back.
Felicity – 5:55 HKJC World Pool EBF Fillies’ Handicap
Also by Blue Point, the speedily bred Felicity proved frustrating to follow in her first three outings – blowing the start first time up and getting going all too late in runs two and three. However, she finally timed it right when getting up close home to score at Lingfield last time. Now that the penny has dropped, there may be more to come.
