Wathnan Racing

Karl Burke is currently unleashing his big Royal Ascot prospects and Wednesday saw another enter the picture in Ruler's Pride (Mehmas) at Ayr. Making his debut in the five-furlong card opener for Wathnan Racing, the 30-100 favourite who cost £550,000 when the highest-priced colt at last month's Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale was soon in front of his two rivals under Clifford Lee. Strong to the line, the relative of the high-class Campanelle (Kodiac) had 3 1/4 lengths to spare over the Faheys' fellow newcomer Crystal Queen (Cotai Glory), with...

Trainer Karl Burke unveiled subsequent G3 Albany, G2 Duchess Of Cambridge and G1 Prix Morny heroine Venetian Sun (Starman) in last term's British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Carlisle and he unleashed another Royal Ascot contender in this year's renewal. James Doyle made the long journey north to partner Wathnan Racing's 300,000gns Craven Breeze-Up graduate Wild Blossom (Mehmas) at the Cumbrian venue and she returned with a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, rosette after routing her three rivals by 10 lengths and more in the five-furlong contest,...

Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief), seventh with a less-than-ideal trip in the GI Kentucky Derby, has begun to gear up for the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga June 6. The GI Curlin Florida Derby winner breezed four furlongs for trainer Brad Cox in company in :48.80 (29/83) at Churchill Downs Friday, his first move since the Kentucky Derby. "The breeze went well today and he's come out of the Derby in good order," said Case Clay, Wathnan's Racing Manager, USA. "We'll shoot for the Belmont now." Clay continued, "He did...

The exciting Gethin (Ghaiyyath), who gained his third career success from just five starts when winning the Listed Magnolia Stakes at Kempton last month, has been bought by Wathnan Racing in a deal brokered by the operation's racing adviser, Richard Brown. "We've admired Gethin from afar ever since he made an impressive debut at Nottingham at two," said Brown in a statement. "He's got great form around some serious horses at three and showed his wellbeing when winning impressively at Kempton a few weeks ago. "He's got any amount of...

Wathnan Racing's Tornado Tower (Frankel), an 850,000gns Book 1 full-brother to G1 Irish Derby, G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 St Leger hero Hurricane Lane, made his second start a winning one in Wednesday's TMT Group Maiden Stakes at Chester. "We had the option of going a mile-and-a-half or a mile-and-a-quarter here, but decided he'd shown enough zip in his last piece of work to go a mile-and-a-quarter," explained James Doyle. "He was learning on the job early, we got rolling a little way from home and it set...

In the space of two and a half minutes at a rain-soaked ParisLongchamp, Wathnan's Best Secret (Persian King) became the operation's worst kept secret as he produced an impressive display to take the G3 Prix d'Hedouville. Sporting the second colours in the mile-and-a-half test with the ultimately disappointing Map Of Stars (Sea The Stars) also in attendance, the Stephane Wattel-trained four-year-old who registered a win in a valuable handicap at the Qatar Goodwood Festival in July and beat the well-regarded Gethin in Saint-Cloud's Listed Prix Turenne in September was held...

Last year's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Daryz (Sea The Stars) is set to face five rivals in Sunday's G1 Prix Ganay World Pool by PMU at ParisLongchamp after declarations for the 10 1/2-furlong contest were confirmed Friday morning. The Aga Khan Studs homebred is in fine fettle ahead of his seasonal debut according to Francis Graffard, who has ambitious plans for the four-year-old further down the line. "He's in fantastic shape and looks amazing," the trainer reported earlier this week. "I started working him some time ago...

His grandfather gave him an allowance, a dollar a week. But he wanted to know how the boy planned to spend it, and didn't like it when he put a nickel into a pinball machine--even though you could win free games if you were any good. "You don't get anything for your nickel," his grandfather complained. "Well, I get a free game," the boy replied. "If you bet on a dog or a horse, at least you have the opportunity to make some money if you're a good handicapper." So...

Wathnan Racing's Derby also-ran Damysus (Frankel) was last seen bagging Newmarket's G3 Darley Stakes, going nine furlongs in October, and returned over the same course and distance to rout his five rivals under a penalty in Wednesday's G3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes. "He's not a big horse, but he's more powerful now and when James [Doyle] asked him to go the acceleration was instant," said John Gosden. "I think he will be better this year, he's more mature and anything from a mile to a mile-and-a-quarter is what James feels...

In its fledgling years, Wathnan Racing may have made a major splash at Royal Ascot in particular, and added a 66/1 winner of the Dubai World Cup to its list of achievements in 2025, but the team now has another major prize in its sights the on the other side of the Atlantic. Commandment (Into Mischief) won last weekend's Florida Derby to take his string of victories for Brad Cox to four and put himself firmly in the reckoning for the Kentucky Derby on May 2. Billed as 'the greatest...

Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief) appeared no worse for wear a day after eking out a win over The Puma (Essential Quality) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. "He looks really good this morning," said trainer Brad Cox, who joined Woody Stephens and Todd Pletcher in garnering wins in the Florida Derby and Gulfstream Park Oaks (Bonnie Miss) in the same year. On the Florida Derby undercard, Cox won the Oaks with Prom Queen (Quality Road). "That's obviously a great accomplishment," said Cox. "We have a great...

Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief) came with a late surge to nail The Puma (Essential Quality) by a nose in a heart-stopping renewal of Saturday's GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. It was a half-length back to 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution) in third. Favored Nearly (Not This Time) tired to fourth. The Diamond Anniversary of the Curlin Florida Derby offered 200 qualifying points for the GI Kentucky Derby on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10 to the first five finishers. The first jewel of the Triple...