Wathnan Racing

Wathnan Racing's Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}--Jane Doe {Ire}, by Hallowed Crown {Aus}) registered a second stakes success in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix d'Arenberg at the beginning of this month and embellished his record with a game victory in Friday's G2 Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster. The £380,000 Goffs Breeze-Up graduate and 7-2 third choice broke swiftly and raced on the front end throughout this five-furlong dash. Coming under pressure at halfway, he refused to buckle in the closing stages and was driven out to deny familiar foe Big...

Carrying a seven-pound penalty for his taking debut win at Newmarket last month, Wathnan Racing's Defence Minister (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Tears Of The Sun {GB}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}) shrugged off the extra burden to win decisively in his six-furlong novice at Haydock on Thursday. Settled behind the leaders early by James Doyle, the 11-8 favourite surged to the front inside the final furlong for a 1 1/2-length defeat of Arabian Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The Hamad Al Jehani trainee, who was a €210,000 Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up...

If you really do reap what you sow, then Gavin Cromwell is set for a bumper harvest. A cool €1 million has been injected into the trainer's County Meath stable in the past year alone and the green shoots have already been sighted with the runners who were readied on the trainer's new five-furlong hill gallop burning up the track of late. Important winners they were, too. Diego Ventura (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) has been snapped up by Wathnan Racing after scoring on debut at Naas while Gowran Park winner An...

Royal Ascot winner Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) has suffered an unspecified setback which will rule him out for the remainder of the season. His owner Wathnan Racing plans to return him to training for a four-year-old campaign. The winner of the G3 Jersey Stakes and G3 Craven Stakes, Haatem has also been placed in two Guineas for Richard Hannon, and was beaten just a head by his stable-mate Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He was an intended starter in the G1 Prix Jacques le...

Making amends for his defeat in Goodwood's G3 Molecomb Stakes in July, Wathnan Racing's Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}--Jane Doe {Ire}, by Hallowed Crown {Aus}) led from start to finish in Sunday's G3 Prix d'Arenberg at ParisLongchamp. Bagging the rail under James Doyle, the 9-10 favourite saw off all threats to hit the line 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Kaadi (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), with Treasure Isle (Ire) (No Nay Never) a short neck away in third. "At Goodwood, I felt I rode him too quietly so today I wanted to...

Irish Guineas heroine Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) has been purchased by Wathnan Racing, the organisation's racing adviser Richard Brown confirmed to the TDN on Saturday. The 3-year-old filly had been previously campaigned by Clipper Logistics and trainer Karl Burke. Brown said, "She's a tremendous athlete, already a dual Group 1 winner, and we're very excited to see what she can do in the months and seasons ahead." Bred by Steve Parkin of Branton Court Stud, the daughter of G2 May Hill Stakes winner and G1 Fillies Mile...

Third in a decent novice at Sandown last month, Wathnan Racing's 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase Dunamase (Ire) (Kingman {GB}—Turret Rocks {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was off the mark at the second time of asking in the mile novice contest at Kempton on Wednesday evening. Prominent from the outset under James Doyle, the John and Thady Gosden-trained 8-11 favourite was in front approaching two out and stayed on to score by 1 1/2 lengths from Prince Of The Seas (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The winner is a full-brother to...

A generation ago, the Philip H. Iselin S. used to be the premier race of the summer at Monmouth Park. Even while cycling through several name changes, the then-handicap carried Grade I status between 1976 and 1996 and a purse that swelled to $500,000 for a few years. Its importance as an August fixture for top older routers merited regular broadcasts on national TV, and the race's roster of winners boasted such standouts as Spectacular Bid, Alysheba and Skip Away. In decline ever since, the Iselin had already levelled out...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features an expensive auction purchase. 18.45 Sandown, Mdn,, £10,000, 2yo, 8fT DUNAMASE (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) debuts in the Wathnan silks in this maiden won in recent times by Too Darn Hot (GB) and Westover (GB), having cost the operation 500,000gns at Tattersalls Book 1. Introduced by Too...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the GI Travers Stakes three times, could be going for No. 4 in this year's Midsummer Derby Baffert, speaking from his summer base at Del Mar in California, said that one of his 3-year-olds--Parenting (Justify) or Muth (Good Magic) who were both tabbed as 'TDN Rising Stars'--could represent him in the $1.25 million race at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 24. "Potentially," he said. Parenting, owned by Wathnan Racing, was a $750,000 purchase at the 2023 Ocala 2-year-olds in training...

4th-Del Mar, $78,000, Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 7-28, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:36.43, ft, neck. PARENTING (c, 3, Justify--Iadorakid, by Lemon Drop Kid) broke his maiden at first asking by 2 3/4 lengths at Santa Anita Apr. 26, which earned him a 'TDN Rising Star'. Ready for his stakes debut and first two-turn test, the colt drove down the Arcadian course in fine style to win by 7 1/2 lengths June 9. Supported at the windows at 40 cents on the dollar, Wathnan Racing's own took the field into the first turn...

In the absence of Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks already had an open feel before Ryan Moore decided to give up the ride on the winner of one of this Classic's key pointers in Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Two of the last five Irish Oaks heroines had captured the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes en route, so the rejection of such a promising and unexposed winner of that Royal Ascot feature can only point to the strong claims of his pick from the Ballydoyle trio. Much more...