Back in 2021, many racing fans were unfamiliar with the blue-bodied, yellow-sleeved, and red-capped silks of Wathnan Racing. How things have changed in the space of a few short years.
Owned by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Thamin bin Hamad Al Thani, Wathnan Racing is the latest Qatari-backed racing venture to take the racing world by storm. Sheik Thamin’s brother, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, is the brains behind Al Shaqab Racing, whilst cousin Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al Thani leads the Qatar Racing operation. In common with Al Shaqab Racing and Qatar Racing, Wathnan wasted little time making their presence felt at the top table.
Royal Ascot Double in First Full Season
Picking up a first notable success with Bariloche in the 2022 Al Rayyan Stakes at Doha, Wathan then took aim at Britain’s biggest events. If punters didn’t know much about the operation before the 2023 Royal Ascot meeting, they certainly did afterwards. Grabbing Group 2 glory with Gregory in the Queen’s Vase, Wathnan topped that achievement only 24 hours later as Courage Mon Ami stormed to victory in the signature event of the Gold Cup.
Only three seasons into their ownership venture, Wathnan continue to make a huge splash at the sales and on the racetrack. Now boasting 16 Group class wins, including four in 2025, the operation heads into the heart of the campaign with realistic hopes of adding to that tally.
With 28 entries at Royal Ascot and two in the Derby, 2025 may be the best year yet for Wathnan. If they are to add to their impressive haul, the Epsom Classic and the Coventry Stakes may represent their best chance.
Opportunity Knocks For Derby Duo
In common with most leading owners, the Epsom Derby features prominently on the Wathnan Racing wish list. The past two editions have passed by without a Wathnan entry in the £1.5 million showpiece, but that looks set to change in 2025.
Of the operations two prospective Derby contenders, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Damysus boasts the most eye-catching claims. Going into many a notebook with a smooth success on debut last season, this Frankel colt then looked in need of the outing on his seasonal return in the bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown. However, his effort last time out in the Dante Stakes was much more like it. Travelling nicely throughout under Kieran Shoemark, Damysus made rapid strides inside the final furlong to master all bar Pride Of Arras, who obtained the first run towards the far side. Hitting the line strongly over this 1m2½f trip, the step up to 1m4f may see him in an even better light. At a general price of 10/1, Damysus sits fifth in the Derby market.
Rounding out the Wathan Derby duo is the William Haggas-trained Opportunity. By the mighty Frankel and out of the Group 1 winning mare, Izzi Top, this strapping bay fetched 475,000 Guineas at the sales. With that price tag in mind, a four-length defeat on his sole start at two was disappointing. However, if his recent return at Haydock is any guide, this colt has improved markedly over the winter. Seemingly going nowhere behind a wall of horses that day, the mount of Tom Marquand sprouted wings once switched into the clear to mow them all down and score by a neck. At a general 40/1, this upwardly mobile sort is attracting plenty of each way interest.
One Better in Coventry Stakes?
Wathnan couldn’t have come much closer to claiming the 2024 Coventry Stakes, with Electrolyte beaten just a nose by 80/1 winner Rashabar and Columnist only a head behind in third. Looking at the prospective entries for the 2025 juvenile event, it would be no surprise to see the owners go one better.
Aidan O’Brien’s Albert Einstein and Treanmor from the Charlie Appleby yard are generating much of the hype ahead of the six-furlong event. However, Wathan has a pair of promising colts of their own in the shape of Postmodern and Underwriter.
By Group 1 winning juvenile Too Darn Hot and out of the US Graded mare Kamakura, 270,000 Guineas purchase Postmodern is another to make stacks of appeal on paper. The initial signs suggest he may be up to delivering on that pedigree potential. Sent to Yarmouth for his racecourse debut on Thursday, 22nd May, he oozed star potential when roaring to a five-length success. The Coventry was mentioned as the immediate target on the back of that, a race for which he is now no bigger than 10/1.
A £200,000 purchase, Underwriter doesn’t boast quite the eyepopping pedigree as Postmodern. However, being by Mehmas, who finished third in the 2016 Coventry Stakes, and out of a mare by No Nay Never, who claimed Royal Ascot gold in the 2013 Norfolk Stakes, he is nicely bred for the task at hand. An easy winner on debut at Ayr, he is trained by Archie Watson, who saddled Electrolyte to that narrowest of defeats 12 months ago. For those who like Underwriter’s claims, the colt can be backed at a general price of 14/1.