Wathnan Racing go on six-horse spending spree before Royal Ascot - including Irish 2,000 Guineas second Haatem

The Emir of Qatar's aggressively growing Wathnan Racing operation have gone on a massive pre-Royal Ascot spending spree, privately acquiring Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Haatem along with five others. 

The operation, headed by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, splurged similarly, and successfully, before last year's royal meeting when buying subsequent winners Gregory and Courage Mon Ami and have looked to further enforce their presence at the top of the sport by purchasing the Richard Hannon-trained colt.

Racing manager Richard Brown completed the purchase of the son of Phoenix Of Spain on Wednesday morning and the three-year-old will now don the red, blue and gold silks in the St James's Palace Stakes, with the Jersey Stakes also under consideration should Notable Speech and Rosallion, winners of the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas, line up at Ascot. 

"He just looks like a very tough horse," said Wathnan Racing adviser Richard Brown. "He's a real street fighter. We were impressed with him in the Craven and liked what he did in the Guineas, but I was really taken with him in Ireland. He looks like he's got plenty of pace and it was after that run at the Curragh we decided to try and get him.

"He's hardy but obviously has plenty of class. I went down to Richard's [Hannon] to see him a few days after the Irish Guineas and I thought since he'd run three times this year he'd come round the corner nice and quietly, but he came round like a lion. He stood there, promptly reared up and looked me in the eye and I just thought 'he'll do'. 

Richard Brown: "Haatem just looks like a very tough horse"Credit: Alisha Meeder

"He's entered in the St James's Palace, but I think if Rosallion and Notable Speech go for that then we'll put him in the Jersey. He showed plenty of speed in Ireland and the seven furlongs at Ascot is really stiff. It's a long way home there and he'd be very strong at the line so I wouldn't be afraid to run him with a penalty in the Jersey.

"James [Doyle] has already ridden him and he was very taken with him. He said Haatem was an easy push-button horse who doesn't waste any energy. He has all the credentials you want in a racehorse." 

The acquisition of Haatem was part of a larger string of purchases on Wednesday by Wathnan Racing, with Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes entry Shartash, Wolferton hopeful Torito and the unbeaten Dryholaey, who will be targeted at the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes, joining Haatem at the big meeting in two weeks. 

Wathnan Racing also boast a formidable juvenile team, which was enhanced this week when classy colt Shadow Army was added to the ranks on Tuesday and Nottingham winner Leovanni was given an 8-1 quote by Coral for the Queen Mary Stakes.

"Our juveniles are going really well, which we're delighted with, but there's a long way to go with them," Brown said. "They've obviously got talent and ability and they'll take their chance at Ascot, but we all know how hard it is to have a winner at the meeting, especially when you're talking about things like the Coventry and the Norfolk, so it's good to have some older horses too."

Lope De Lilas: bought by Wathnan Racing with a view to running in the Irish OaksCredit: Caroline Norris

Alongside their new talent for Royal Ascot, Wathnan Racing have also got their eye on Classic glory with the purchase of the Willie Mullins-trained Lope De Lilas, who is due to line up in the Irish Oaks on July 20. 

Brown said: "Having a horse with Willie is not what I expected at the beginning of the year at all. I've not had much to do with the jumps so I've never had a dealing with him before, but what a gentleman he is. It's really exciting because he's an exceptional trainer. 

"Lope De Lilas won very impressively at Leopardstown and she's a big, well-bred filly. Willie thinks she's only going to get better with age so we'll nurture her this year. She could have been a Ribblesdale candidate but we'll put a line through Ascot as we want to go slowly with her with a view to the Irish Oaks, which Willie is keen to run her in."

Read more:

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