Super Seven: Wathnan Racing crowned leading owner at Goodwood

Evening Saigon’s explosive victory in the Coral Stewards’ Cup put the icing on the cake of a tremendous week for Wathnan Racing at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

The title of leading owner had already been secured in the opening race of the final day when Hopewell Rock confirmed his early promise with a track-record-breaking victory in the Highclere Castle Gin Summer Handicap to give the team a sixth win but it was Hamad Al-Jehani and James Doyle, teaming up with Evening Saigon, who landed Saturday’s signature race, bringing up the third double of the week.

Seventh in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, Evening Saigon took to the lead in the Stewards’ Cup alongside Stratusnine as the the final furlong loomed but was able to gain the upper hand over his rival to win by a head, 

“It has been great,” said Doyle, reflecting on the week’s glories. “Obviously, we were very deflated last year with just one winner during the week. We were really frustrated by that, so the message was that we needed to do better, and that applied to everyone, including me. We have done a lot of work this week looking at different tactics, track position and things like that. All the guys back home in the office, and these guys here, have played their part.

“Hamad has done an unbelievable job with this horse. He is not an easy conveyance. I don’t know if you saw, but when the stalls opened, he was feeling so well in himself that he tried to get rid of me in the first few strides. If he gets the start right, which he did today, he is pretty good.”

Al-Jehani added, “I am very happy for Evening Saigon and very happy for the team. He performed very well at Royal Ascot, and it was the right decision from the management to keep him for the Stewards’ Cup. It is really important for us and a really important race for the season. I am very happy, and thanks to James for giving the horse a great ride.

“It is not easy to be competitive with the best trainers in the world, but we try our best. I think we are building in a very good way, with great help from the management. Hopefully, we will improve year by year and can get Wathnan into the winner’s enclosure more and more.”

The George Boughey-trained Hopewell Rock may well now be considered for international staying targets after his conniving win in the opener under Ryan Moore. 

Boughey said, “I have always wanted to step him up, even to two miles, and today was the big target for Wathnan. It is a massive meeting for them. We have not thought much beyond today, but he can probably step up into Stakes company and hopefully develop into a Cup horse at some stage.

“Richard was very keen to buy the horse heading into Ascot and the plan was Ascot, Goodwood and then we would work it out afterwards. We missed at Ascot and, luckily, we hit at Goodwood.

“He is in the Ebor and I think, at the moment, York is a pretty natural stepping stone for him, but we will take it a day at a time.”

Richard Brown added, “He didn’t have an ideal preparation into Ascot. Nothing serious, just a couple of niggles, and George had probably only got him to about 95 per cent. You have got to go into those races at 100 per cent and it probably just showed in his performance there.

“Ryan [Moore] was pretty complimentary. We will go and have a look, but maybe we will start travelling with him later in the year. I think Australia could well come into the equation. He felt a Melbourne Cup might really suit him.

“It would be an exciting project for us. We haven’t done it before and Wathnan has not had any runners in Australia yet. There are a couple of horses that have been on our radar to do that with, potentially Map Of Stars in the Cox Plate. It is really exciting and it is what this operation is about – having horses competing on the international stage.”