The magic number: three Group 3 wins in three countries!

Following a Grade 1 triumph in Saratoga, Wathnan Racing enjoyed a thrilling afternoon across Europe, claiming Group 3 wins in Britain, France and Germany – all in less than two hours.

At Baden-Baden, Hamad Al-Jehani and Qatar’s champion jockey Faleh Bugenhaim combined to win Germany’s top sprint race, the Goldene Peitsche, with the admirable six-year-old Holguin who has previously won Chester’s Listed City Plate Stakes twice. 

This, however, was his first Group success and it was one which didn’t always look likely after the grey broke slowly from the gates and initially trailed the field of ten. Gradually worked into the race by Bugenhaim, Holguin was tucked away in the pack as the runners came wide round the turn to make their way down the stands’ side and then eased his way to the front with just over a furlong left to score comfortably.

James Doyle had initially intended to travel to France to partner Diego Ventura in the Prix de Quincey on the final weekend of Deauville’s summer season. Fate had other ideas, however, and he was grounded in England with plane troubles, leaving Christophe Soumillon to step into the breach.

A more-than-able understudy, Soumillon had the four-year-old Diego Ventura handy throughout on the heavy conditions in Normandy and maintained his advantage up the centre of the straight to hold out for the win, bringing up a Group 3 double for the Hamad Al-Jehani stable in a matter of minutes.

Attention then returned to Goodwood, the scene of such a successful Qatar Goodwood Festival for Wathnan Racing and again providing a happy outcome in the Prestige Stakes for Light Of Dawn.

The Karl Burke-trained juvenile has already signalled her talent in three previous starts after winning easily on debut and then finishing third in a red-hot running of the G3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and also in the G3 Prix de Cabourg at Deauville.

Building on that significant early potential, Light Of Dawn is now a Group winner in her own right. Her victory provided some consolation for James Doyle, who had been rerouted to Sussex and had Light Of Dawn nicely settled in mid-pack before sending her on to win with some authority.