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| Staff Writer |
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Newmarket trainer Tom Clover is targeting Group One glory in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Racecourse with progressive sprinter Rogue Lightning following a perfect start in Qatar. The prestigious 1200-metre (6 furlongs) contest represents the highest level of international sprint racing.
Looking ahead to Dubai World Cup night, Clover confirmed, "If we get invited to Dubai, then the Al Quoz Sprint would be the obvious place to go next. Having won at six now, it would make sense to look at further six-furlong options throughout the summer here."
The trainer has yet to finalise riding assignments, noting, "James Doyle is the number one for Watnan Racing, but he was ridden by Mikael Barzalona in Qatar who was a very good deputy."
After his impressive Qatar victory, Clover revealed, "Rogue Lightning is now back home in Newmarket to run in the Al Quoz Sprint and Dubai World Cup night. We'll train him here and then ship him out to Dubai for the race, all being well."
The 5YO showcased his class with an impressive victory in Sunday's Dukhan Sprint, where he faced quality opposition, including Kevin Ryan's Washington Heights and Stuart Williams' Quinault. Under a perfectly timed ride from Mickael Barzalona, Rogue Lightning surged in the final 200m to claim victory by a length. The race unfolded dramatically, with Ecoro Sieg and Swift Asset setting a fast pace while Taxiwala tracked them closely.
As the field approached the straight, Rogue Lightning and Washington Heights mounted a late charge, battling it out in the final stages, with Quinault finishing third, a further three-quarters of a length behind.
"It was a great result. I was so pleased for the Wathnan team as they put a lot of faith in us to buy the horse and keep him with us," said Clover. "Last season didn't quite work out as we'd like so it's great to see him back to winning ways; it's a great result for everyone."
Powerful Connections
The success carries extra significance for Wathnan Racing, which is owned by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The operation, named after a beloved stallion of Al Thani family folklore - whose pricked ears earned him the name 'Wathnan', meaning 'a crown of ears' - has made remarkable progress since its establishment in October 2022. Their distinctive old gold and peacock blue silks have already achieved remarkable success, including a victory in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot with Courage Mon Ami just two days after their very first UK runner.
Wathnan's recent dominance on home soil in Qatar has been exceptional, highlighted by Balzac's commanding defence of his Al Rayyan Breeders Cup title. The 7YO son of Lancelot, trained by Alban de Mieulle and ridden by Soufiane Saadi, powered to a three-length victory in the 2000m Local Thoroughbred contest. Rogue Lightning added to the stable's success with a brilliant victory in the Gr.3 Dukhan Sprint, surging to a length victory under Mickael Barzalona in the 1200m contest, defeating Washington Heights and Quinault.
The operation's dominance continued with Supercooled's resounding triumph in the US$500,000 Qatar Derby, while Khisah Bu Thaila secured the Local Thoroughbred Derby. In the Purebred Arabian ranks, Chdia demonstrated her class with a 6.5-length victory in the 3YO Pure Arabian Derby over 1400m, while Lippo De Carrere maintained his perfect Qatar record with a five-length success in the Purebred Arabian Cup under Soufiane Saadi. RB Mary Lylah, an exciting American import, claimed the Purebred Arabian Oaks over 2100m under James Doyle, while Forever Blue secured third place in the Thoroughbred Filly and Mare Oryx Cup.
The team's excellence extended to the UAE, where Make Me King captured the prestigious HH The President Cup for Thoroughbreds in Abu Dhabi, threading through a busy field under James Doyle to deny Group Two winners Marbaan and Laneqash. In the juvenile ranks, Rebel Diamond dominated the Al Rayyan Stakes, with stablemate Shadow Army, a Group Two runner-up in France, finishing third behind Billboard Star.
Given the heritage of the Umm Qarn stable from which Wathnan grew and their consistent success across both Arabian and Thoroughbred racing, they have rapidly established themselves as a significant force in global racing, following up their earlier Group One successes with Kind Of Blue in the British Champions Sprint at Ascot and Subsanador in the Grade 1 California Crown at Santa Anita.
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Rogue Lightning has shown remarkable consistency throughout his career, winning three consecutive races during the 2023 season before delivering a career-defining performance in the Prix de l'Abbaye, finishing just over a length behind the mighty Highfield Princess.
This top-level performance caught the attention of Wathnan Racing, who subsequently acquired the talented sprinter while keeping him in Clover's care.
"You'd have to say he finished strongly on the line; he relaxed well, so hopefully, some nice six-furlong races here through the summer will be the plan," Clover observed. "He was seriously quick at three, and for whatever reason, sometimes they can just miss a year. He just didn't find life as easy last year, but he seems to have come back well."
Reflecting on Rogue Lightning's improved form this season, Clover explained, "Everything last year was slightly hard work. He also didn't have much luck - he had no run at Goodwood, and he was then second to Starlust at York – he went on to win the Breeders’ Cup.”
“He trained very well going into this race and is hopefully back to his old self; we all know the ability has always been there, so hopefully he can continue to show it."
The trainer's faith in his charge never wavered, "I think he probably appreciates good ground. He likes being in the thick of things. He had quite a good 3YO year, and sometimes, after a busy 3YO campaign, the 4YO season can be tougher at times.”
“He's come through the winter nicely and is moving well. Hopefully, we can see the Rogue Lightning I knew had a high amount of ability, and I hope we can have a very consistent year."
The connection with Wathnan Racing came through bloodstock agent Richard Brown, whom Clover has known since his days as assistant to David Simcock.
"Richard Brown introduced me to some of the Wathnan team when the horse was being sold. I was very appreciative of Richard buying and keeping him with us, ” Clover reflects.
“To have a winner for them on their big race night was a real thrill. It was something that we'll always remember."
The relationship dates back to Clover's formative years. "I've known Richard Brown a long time. I was an assistant to David Simcock, and he was involved there. He really always helped me and let me pull out horses for him at sales a couple of times. When the horse was being sold, I was very appreciative of Richard buying and keeping him with us as I didn't want to lose him."
Tom Clover is one of Britain's most upwardly mobile trainers, operating from the historic Kremlin House Stables in Newmarket. Together with his wife Jackie, daughter of legendary trainer Michael Jarvis, Clover has seen consistent growth in stable quality and prize money.
His breakthrough moment came in 2023 when Rogue Millennium landed the Gr.2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot, marking a significant milestone for the yard. The picturesque Kremlin House Stables, which has housed numerous Royal Ascot winners, Classic winners and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Carroll House, is perfectly located within Newmarket, being equidistant from the famous Limekilns Gallops and the vast expanse of racecourse side gallops. Clover started as a pupil assistant with Charlie Longsdon before spending five formative years as David Simcock's assistant, who continues to be a great sounding board and regular source of advice.
Meanwhile, Clover's 7YO Al Nayyir is preparing for the Red Sea Turf Handicap on the Saudi Cup meeting card, with potential plans for the Dubai Gold Cup in early April. The son of Dubawi has impressed since moving to Kremlin House Stables from French trainer Julien Carayon, finishing second by a short head behind Vauban in the Gr.2 Lonsdale Cup at York before winning the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newmarket by eight lengths. After a fifth-placed finish in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day at Ascot, he recently completed his preparations at Chelmsford.
"At the moment, it's all systems go," said Clover, adding that Dubai would be considered pending his Saudi performance. “Hopefully he runs a solid race in Saudi Arabia and he can head to the Gold Cup on World Cup night – has has run well in the race before.”