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| Sumita Pawar |
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With the owner's first three runners on British soil, including Gregory, the Queen's Vase victor, and Courage Mon Ami, who won the Gold Cup, the centerpiece contest at Royal Ascot, Wathnan Racing has made a stunning debut in the British scene.
The Wathnan silks were also seen on Isaac Shelby, who finished second in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and fourth in the St James's Palace Stakes.
Following their Group One victory on Thursday, it was disclosed that Wathnan Racing is led by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, although information about the organization had been scarce before then.
Despite only having three runners in Britain, Wathnan Racing is part of a family with a history of success in high-profile racing.
Wathnan Racing: Making Waves In Europe And Beyond
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, leads the organization and is the brother of Sheikh Joaan, principal of Al Shaqab Racing and Haras de Bouquetot in Normandy.
Additionally, the siblings are cousins of Sheikh Fahad of Qatar Racing, who stands horses like Zoustar and Kameko at Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire.
Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock sourced Courage Mon Ami, Gregory, and Isaac Shelby for Wathnan Racing.
“I think it’s fantastic for the business generally that the Emir of Qatar, such a senior international figure, is interested in British racing,” said Brown. “I think they registered as owners in Britain only six weeks ago, so these results are pretty unprecedented.”
Wathnan Racing's triumphs with Courage Mon Ami and Gregory mark their first wins in Britain, but the organization has already established itself in Europe.
At the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale last year, Wathnan Racing was the top buyer, spending 1,750,000gns on nine lots, including Persian Royal for 450,000gns. These acquisitions were intended to compete in Qatar, where Wathnan Racing was the leading owner in the 2022-23 season.
Explaining how his association with Wathnan Racing began, Brown said: “Olly Tait and I lived next to each other when we first moved to Newmarket 25 years ago. We formed a friendship and have been good mates ever since. It was Easter Sunday when Olly called me about this project.
“Obviously Wathnan Racing had been to the horses-in-training sales and bought quite a few horses to go to Qatar, and I’d quietly helped Olly with a few things like valuations in the background.
“He told me he’d been to Qatar and the horses they’d bought had worked out well, so the owners would like to have a go at racing in Britain. He asked if I’d help and obviously I was blown away to even be asked.”
Brown added, “They are extraordinary to deal with. I report to Olly and then he deals with the guys in Qatar, but everything has been completely straightforward. We’re very focused and disciplined in what we’re trying to do.”
Elaborating on what followed that initial approach, Brown continued, “The outline of the brief we’ve been given is really to buy horses that can go to the better meetings and compete at places like Ascot, York and Goodwood. Buying horses in training means you can achieve that quicker than if you’re buying yearlings or breeding. Isaac Shelby was our first and then we bought Gregory and Courage Mon Ami.”