Haatem leads a 28-strong team at Royal Ascot

Wathnan Racing to have runners across all five days of racing’s Olympics.

Likeable three-year-old Haatem – placed in two Classics and already a winner at Group 2 level – will target the Group 3 Jersey Stakes on the last day of the Royal Meeting. He spearheads a deep team of some 28 Wathnan colour bearers at Royal Ascot, which starts tomorrow.

Trainer Richard Hannon said of the recent Wathnan purchase, ‘Haatem’s been a gentleman all his life. He’s got the perfect mind for racing, and he gives his jockey absolutely no hassle. You can sit him pretty much anywhere in a race, and the track at Ascot will really suit him. He’s a very, very brave horse. A special horse. A really good soldier, always on our side. We are in for a really exciting year with him in all sorts of top races.’

Other Wathnan contenders to look out for include Torito in the Wolferton Stakes on Tuesday, juvenile filly Leovanni in the Group 2 Queen Mary on Wednesday, rapidly improving handicapper English Oak in the Buckingham Palace Stakes on Thursday – when Gregory will bid to give Wathnan a second Gold Cup, after Courage Mon Ami’s victory in 2023. French Derby runner-up First Look in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes is perhaps our highlight on Friday.

”A special horse. A really good soldier. We are in for a really exciting year with him.”

-RICHARD HANNON, TRAINER