3 minute read

French Master and Haatem ensured that powerhouse owners Wathnan Racing ended day one of Royal Ascot with two winners on the board.

A few hours on from watching his stable star Rosallion being beaten a nose in the opening Queen Anne Stakes, Richard Hannon found himself in the Royal Ascot winners’ enclosure courtesy of Haatem’s victory in the Listed Wolferton Stakes. 

Ridden by retained rider James Doyle, the Richard Hannon-trained colt enjoyed a smooth passage from midfield under James Doyle and was delivered to challenge approaching the final furlong.

Stepping up to ten furlongs for the first time, Haatem stayed on strongly in the final furlongs, getting the better of Joseph O’Brien’s Galen by three quarters of a length, with the same distance back to the 4/1 market leader King’s Gambit, who also carried the colours of Wathnan Racing, in third. 

 Hannon said: “Haatem is an amazing horse. He has been a pleasure to be a part of, for me, for old connections, new connections, and James loves him. He is just one of those horses who is the reason you own and train horses – it’s for ones like that. 

“He cost 27,000 guineas – there’s a lot of people out there who could afford a share in him – and that’s the best thing about racing, is that these horses are accessible. And it’s important that they win some of these big races at the big meetings. 

“He worked in the week – the best bit of work he’s done all year. And I said I don’t know if we’re doing the right thing by putting him up to a mile and a quarter, maybe we should have stayed at a mile. James said he loved it, and he was a bit eager early, which he was bound to be. Going back to a mile is not out of the question, but he will probably turn up in the Eclipse.”

Doyle added: “First and foremost, well done to Richard Hannon and his team. Haatem had a nasty enough injury last year and they've done a great job to get him back. For a couple of runs this season we were thinking he's not quite there but, he's such a big boy, it has taken time to really get on his A-game.

“After last time in France, I was thinking shall we take on the big boys in the Queen Anne or try to boss a race like this. He was the quality in this race today. He was turned out absolutely superbly by Richard Hannon's team and showed his class. 

“That was a good performance. It was the first time trying this trip. That mile-and-a-quarter start, you're running downhill for a bit, and I didn't want to get shuffled back. I made sure he jumped, and he over-raced the whole way down the hill, so he can certainly do better than what he's done today, and he'll need to if he's to take on the big boys over a mile and a quarter.”

On what it’s like to ride a winner for Wathnan Racing at the Royal meeting, he said: “Every Royal Ascot meeting is very high pressure and, when you work for Wathnan Racing, who really target this meeting, you do feel it, of course you do.

“I have been here many a year trying to ride winners, thinking I had good rides, and gone away with nothing. You can never count your chickens at a meeting like this, so to get one on the first day is brilliant and it can only be a good thing.”

Shortly after steering Haatem to victory, James Doyle was once again celebrating at Royal Ascot when French Master, who was sporting first-time blinkers, swooped late to get the better of George Scott’s progressive stayer Caballo De Mar by two and a half lengths. 

Samui (20/1) finished half a length further back in third, while Barnso (14/1) was fourth.

Doyle said: “We had a bit of a give and take there! We had to try and find our mutual ground and, whilst he didn't help me out early on, he certainly helped me out from two furlongs out. 

“I was too far back, but we were going no gallop. He walked out of the gate, which they can do sometimes with the blinkers on first time. He is quite sleepy. He walks around banging into rails and things but, when he gets on the track, he is usually pretty good at the business end. He has a big engine.”

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, French Master changed hands to Wathnan Racing in recent weeks having won last time out in the colours of owner-breeder Philippa Cooper. 

John Gosden added: “Philippa Cooper [breeder and former owner] had Gregory before, who won the Vase here, a good Cup horse, and I think this horse might go that way.

"Philippa is an amazing breeder because she breeds horses with stamina, proper middle distance horses, something we don't see much. Therefore, when she has a horse like this, it's very attractive to people to buy to run here. She is a fantastic breeder, and I really enjoy training for her and her husband Nick.”