Wathnan Racing

The King must by now be on pretty friendly terms with Aidan O'Brien, the trainer who has spent more time than any in his counting house. On Tuesday he handed him the trainer's prize for the five-furlong sprint named in His Majesty's honour and 48 hours later another was dished out for the longest Group 1 race run in Britain. The Gold Cup, with its 219-year history, is also one of the most cherished races of the week. In these eyes it ranks above all others, and a huge portion...

It is taking almost a crowbar to deny Joseph O'Brien at Royal Ascot this week, but luckily for Wathnan and James Doyle they had the equine equivalent as the operation's recent acquisition Earth Shot (Time Test) got up to deny the Owning Hill runner Johanna Walsh (Sea The Stars) late in a thrilling G2 Ribblesdale Stakes. Rated highly from an early point by William Haggas, the bargain 90,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 purchase who is a half-sister to Wednesday's Prince of Wales's pacemaker Devil's Advocate had been sold by Childwickbury...

James McDonald will once again ride second string for Wathnan Racing during the Royal Ascot meeting next week. The Kiwi-born McDonald earned his fifth Royal Ascot winner aboard Wathnan's Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) in last year's G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. Overall, the Wathnan colours were first past the post five times during the 2025 edition of Royal Ascot. "We've got a young fellow from New Zealand who's not too bad called James McDonald on the teamsheet," said Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown when asked about riding plans in races where...

Joining the growing brigade of exciting two-year-olds under the Wathnan Racing banner, Royal Heritage (Blue Point) made his own statement on debut at Hamilton on Wednesday evening. Sent off the 30-100 favourite for the six-furlong maiden, the €800,000 Arqana May Breeze-Up purchase who holds an entry in Tuesday's Coventry was able to easily overcome a slow start and cruise to the fore two out. Sent clear under hands and heels by James Doyle, the Hamad Al Jehani-trained half-brother to the useful handicapper Lattam (Lope De Vega) asserted for a 2...

Wathnan Racing and Karl Burke will head to Royal Ascot with some exciting two-year-olds and Monday's action at Carlisle saw Light Of Dawn (Showcasing) add her name to the list. The victory follows a brace of winners for the Wathnan operation at Churchill Downs on Sunday, both of whom - Sneakily (Tapit) and Leading Change (Gun Runner) - were subsequently named 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard'. Sent off the 5-6 favourite for the near-six-furlong novice, the €625,000 Arqana May Breeze-Up purchase was settled in rear of the quartet early...

When you're the half-brother to a multiple Grade I winner, expectations are always high, but Leading Change (Gun Runner) took a big first step to filling those shoes with a dazzling debut at Churchill Downs to earn a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' nod. Selling for the princely price of $800,000 as a yearling at the 2024 Keeneland September sale, the son of Gun Runner had a respectable worktab under his belt by the time he was entered for this contest. Drawn to the far outside, the post made...

There was nothing stealthy about her leap into the air at the break but it didn't matter late as the eye-catching Sneakily (Tapit) went last to first to secure the TDN stamp of approval as the newest 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' at Churchill. The grey was debuted at Ellis Park Aug. 18 and had the misfortune of having to close on an uncontested leader. Having spent most of her time near the rear of the field after she broke slowly and was bumped around, Sneakily came home from...

Group winner Godspeed has been purchased by Wathnan Racing. The filly was previously owned by Peter Bradley, F & O Hinderze Racing & Ecurie JML. The daughter of Hello Youmzain won the G2 Prix de Sandringham in 2025. She is also a half-sister to G1 Poules d'Essai des Pouliches second The Last dance (Iffraaj). Godspeed, who ran second in the Listed Prix Maurice Zilber at ParisLongchamp on April 23, will remain with her current trainers, Carlos and Yann Lerner. Said Wathnan Racing's racing advisor Richard Brown, "Godspeed is a very...

Unbeaten colt Protection Act, who achieved a rating of 102 for winning a conditions event at Goodwood last week, is the latest classy prospect to have been snapped up by Wathnan Racing.  By the sire-of-the-moment Starspangledbanner, who recorded a memorable Guineas double with Gstaad and Precise at the Curragh over the weekend, Protection Act was knocked down to Richard Ryan for 160,000gns at Book 2 session of the October Yearling Sale at Tattersalls in 2024. He made a winning debut for trainer George Boughey in the colours of Teme Valley...

The Prettiest Star (Starman), fourth in the G1 1000 Guineas, has been purchased by Wathnan Racing. The maiden winner will remain with trainer Ed Walker. Bred by Northern Star Bloodstock, the daughter of Ediyva (Kingman) is a granddaughter of G3 Athasi Stakes heroine Emiyna (Maria's Mon) from the family of G1 Gold Cup heroine Estimate (Monsun). She made her first three starts in the colours of David Ward, with a debut win at Nottingham in August followed by a second-place finish in the G2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket a month...

With Haydock's two sprint Group 2s going ahead after early drama on Saturday's card, it was Karl Burke and Clifford Lee who were the most relieved as they pulled off the double with Night Raider (Dark Angel) in the William Hill Temple Stakes. Sent off the 3-1 favourite for the five-furlong test, having marked his first run since a gelding op with an all-the-way win in Newmarket's G3 Palace House Stakes earlier this month, Wathnan's representative wasn't asked to lead this time with his rider in supreme form. Delivered to...

Badly in need of a confidence boost ahead of Royal Ascot, Wathnan's Lazzat (Territories) got just that in Thursday's G3 Prix du Palais-Royal at ParisLongchamp. Sent off the 30-100 favourite for the seven-furlong contest, the five-year-old who had endured five consecutive reversals since his epic defeat of Satono Reve in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in June was launched by Mickael Barzalona 300 metres out and coaxed clear for a smooth 4 1/2-length success. Silius (Dubawi) was second, with the outsider Rencontre Sportive (Seabhac) another 1 1/4 lengths away...