Tag Archive for: Wathnan Racing

Gosdens to be boosted by new Royal Ascot Advocate

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Crimson Advocate will join John and Thady Gosden ahead of her bid for back-to-back Royal Ascot victories later this month.

The daughter of Nyquist gave American handler George Weaver one of the biggest days of his career when blazing a trail to deny Relief Rally in a thrilling Queen Mary Stakes in 2023 and is now on course for the King Charles III Stakes over the same track and trip on the opening day of the Royal meeting.

Although put in her place by Ascot rival Big Evs at the Breeders’ Cup, she will attempt to turn the tables on Mick Appleby’s star sprinter when the flying filly returns to Berkshire looking to emulate Wesley Ward’s Lady Aurelia by doing the same double.

At Ascot, she will be a part of Qatar-based owners Wathnan Racing’s burgeoning team for the summer showpiece and she will soon arrive at her new Newmarket home, having come through her final preparations Stateside by claiming Gulfstream’s Roar Stakes last month.

Wathnan’s US representative Case Clay said: “So much credit goes to George Weaver for what he has done with the filly so far, even training her up to going to England. But once we get to England, it sure is nice to be involved with John and Thady.

“She had her final breeze on Saturday morning at Keeneland in preparation for the King Charles III and she is going to fly to England on June 11.

“Royal Ascot is the top tier of racing and she proved herself worthy last year for connections, so hopefully she can do what Lady Aurelia did when she won the King’s Stand as a three-year-old filly.”

John Gosden, along with son Thady, will train Crimson Advocate this summer
John Gosden, along with son Thady, will train Crimson Advocate this summer (John Walton/PA)

Despite proven form over the course and distance, Crimson Advocate is a general 16-1 shot to strike for the second year running at the Royal meeting.

However, following her relocation from the States to Clarehaven, owners Wathnan Racing are hoping she can be a force on the European sprinting scene throughout the summer, with races like the Nunthorpe also on the agenda for later in the season.

“There are more important five-furlong sprints in England in the summer and fall than there are in America,” continued Clay.

“So, whether that is the Nunthorpe or the King George (at Goodwood), there is just more of them over there, so we thought let’s keep her over there for a little while and see what unfolds.”



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Wathnan well-stocked with Royal Ascot juvenile prospects

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James Doyle could have some tricky decisions to make when it comes to choosing his Royal Ascot mounts in the juvenile races, given the strength in depth of the Wathnan Racing crop.

In recent weeks, five two-year-olds have won first time out in the blue, gold and red silks and while none were cheap, all were very impressive.

Archie Watson’s Aesterius won over five furlongs at Bath, while stablemate Electrolyte struck over six at Ayr on Monday.

Richard Fahey is responsible for both Columnist and Catalyse, who prevailed over six furlongs at Chester and Hamilton respectively, and Karl Burke’s Leovanni is a leading fancy for the Queen Mary following her Nottingham triumph.

“I think what we’ve got to do is get a bit closer to it, we all know horses, they can start coughing or anything can happen, so we’ll just get closer to the time,” said Wathnan’s racing manager Richard Brown.

“I think they are all pretty different. The horse that won at Bath (Aesterius) is a big horse who will come on quite a lot for it.

“Richard Fahey’s Starspangledbanner (Catalyse) impressed me, as he moved like a very good horse.

“Columnist really impressed me too, because he went a very hard pace and then quickened again, which is hard to do, and James Doyle was very impressed with Archie’s horse (Electrolyte).”

Brown went on: “The gameplan was to buy a group of two-year-olds and hopefully out of that group a couple might get to Ascot. We’re on track with that, which is great because it’s not easy to do.

“We’ll get closer to the time and if everything is still okay, we’ll take our chance in hopefully some Ascot races.

“We have a couple more entered this week and they could throw their hat into the ring, too. I bought Ardad as a breezer and he won six days before winning the Windsor Castle.

“We’re with some of the best two-year-old trainers in the country, they know what they are doing but there’s absolutely zero pressure on them to get them to Ascot, they’ll only go if they are absolutely 100 per cent.”



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Wathnan splash the cash in search of more Royal Ascot glory

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Haatem will sport the colours of Wathnan Racing when he drops back in trip for the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Qatari-based operation made an immediate impact to their ownership enterprise when striking with Courage Mon Ami and Gregory at the Royal meeting 12 months ago, the former taking home the feature Gold Cup.

Now Wathnan have opened their chequebook once again to sign for a number of promising acquisitions prior to this year’s summer showpiece, with Richard Hannon’s 2000 Guineas third and Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up the stand-out name among their list of new recruits.

Keen to avoid locking horns with impressive Newmarket winner Notable Speech, and meeting stablemate Rosallion for a third time this season, the Craven Stakes scorer will revert to seven furlongs in Berkshire – where his proven stamina is anticipated to be an asset for the Jersey.

“We are delighted to get him and it is very hard to buy horses who are proven at Classic level, but he looks a really tough, likeable horse,” said Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown.

“James (Doyle) was very taken by him and he had obviously ridden him at Newmarket and is a great addition to the team.

“There are a few reasons for dropping back to seven furlongs, most notably Notable Speech and Rosallion are going to be tough nuts to crack. We also think he showed plenty of speed in Ireland and with it being a very stiff seven at Ascot, as we all know, I think he will be very strong at the line.

“He will have a penalty, but he’s a big, strong horse and he should be able to carry it and will hopefully go to the Jersey with a strong chance.”

Also now lining up for Wathnan on the Saturday of Royal Ascot will be Shartash, who is two from two since joining Archie Watson and will head for the six-furlong Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

“We were really impressed with him on his first start this year (at Thirsk) and we nearly made a move for him then,” continued Brown.

“We thought we’d better see him again first and was then impressed again (at Haydock). He has improved for being gelded and he is going to be a six or seven-furlong horse this year, and I think the stiff six (at Ascot) could be just about perfect for him.

“It’s an open division and Archie is very good with these sprinters, so we’re really looking forward to running him.”

Another new name to the Wathnan ranks trained by Watson is the unbeaten Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes-bound Dyrholaey, while John and Thady Gosden’s Torito and Richard Fahey’s Shadow Army are others set to represent the Emir of Qatar’s racing interest during the five-day festival.

The latter saw the form of his taking debut win at York given a timely boost by Adrian Keatley’s Francisco’s Piece at the weekend and will remain at five furlongs for a tilt at the Norfolk Stakes.

York winner Shadow Army will head to the Norfolk Stakes
York winner Shadow Army will head to the Norfolk Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I was really impressed with Shadow Army at York,” added Brown. “He did everything wrong, everything went against him and he was very green and babyish, but he still got there at the line with his ears pricked.

“Seeing the runner-up come out and win the Listed race at Chantilly is fantastic and has given us a real boost and he has come out of the race in great form, with Richard really happy.

“I imagine he will run in the Norfolk. I think six furlongs will definitely be within his compass later in the year, but I think the stiff five at Ascot will be ideal.”

He went on: “Our remit was to produce a team of horses for Ascot that the Emir can enjoy and be proud of.

“There is a group of horses here that can hopefully do that. Last year was amazing, with two winners, and with this team added to what we already have, there is hopefully going to be plenty of horses with chances.

“However, you do not count your chickens at Ascot. You need a lot of luck and a lot of things to go your way and it is as hard a place as any to have a winner. Hopefully we have a team that goes there with plenty of live chances.”

Also among the plethora of purchases is the talented daughter of Lope De Vega, Lope De Lilas, who although set to skip the Royal meeting, could fulfil Classic dreams for the owners when she heads for the Juddmonte Irish Oaks in July.

The three-year-old is Wathnan’s first horse trained by Willie Mullins and connections are thrilled to link up with the Irish champion jumps trainer.

Lope De Lilas in winning action at Leopardstown
Lope De Lilas in winning action at Leopardstown (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

“If you had told me at the beginning of the year we would have a horse with Willie Mullins, I would have questioned your sanity, because I didn’t realise we were moving into his main field, the jumping field,” quipped Brown.

“However, I was very impressed with Lope De Lilas at Leopardstown, she galloped out miles and I loved seeing that.

“She’s a very well-bred filly and a big filly who is going to need time and she is only going to get better with age.

“She could have been a Ribblesdale candidate, but we have put a line through that and Willie is keen to go to the Irish Oaks with her. It’s not for me to tell Willie Mullins how to train, so that is what we will be doing.”



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Gregory on course for Gold Cup bid at Ascot

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Everything is in place for Gregory to bid for successive Royal Ascot wins, with the Gold Cup in his sights.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old has big shoes to fill as he will be trying to emulate last year’s winner Courage Mon Ami, who is also owned by Wathnan Racing but currently sidelined.

Gregory won the Queen’s Vase in 2023, giving his new owners a famous double, and went on to be fifth in the St Leger at Doncaster.

He made his comeback this season in the Yorkshire Cup when third to Giavellotto.

“Everyone is very happy with Gregory. Obviously it was disappointing to have lost Courage Mon Ami, but he’s going to step up,” said Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown.

“We were really pleased with his first run, delighted in fact, and obviously he promises to stay further, he was strong at the line having been off for a long time.

“We were very happy with that, I think that (a mile and three-quarters) will probably be his minimum trip. Obviously you never know they are going to stay that far, two and a half miles (the Gold Cup trip), but I think he’s got every chance.

“He really rallied strongly and I was impressed because at one point I was worried he was going to drop right off them, but he came back again. He’s a lovely horse.”



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Question marks over Ascot defence for Courage Mon Ami

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Connections of Courage Mon Ami expect to have a clearer idea later this week on whether he will be able to defend his Gold Cup crown after the top-class stayer suffered a setback in training.

John and Thady Gosden’s five-year-old got the better of Coltrane to land the Royal Ascot showpiece under Frankie Dettori, but has not been seen in competitive action since coming off second-best against the same rival in the Lonsdale Cup at York in August.

The Wathnan Racing-owned son of Frankel was being readied for a return to the Berkshire showpiece next month and while his participation must now be in some doubt, Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown has not given up hope.

“I can’t say Royal Ascot is unlikely at the moment because we don’t know,” he said.

“He had a training setback last week, had a little bit of time off and now we are investigating. I know no more than that. We’ll know more, I believe, towards the end of this week.

“I’m not going to say it’s disappointing because we don’t know what it is. Until we find out exactly what we’re dealing with, I don’t know.”



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Wathnan eyeing Gold Cup repeat with star staying duo

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The Ascot Gold Cup is the priority for defending champion Courage Mon Ami and St Leger third Gregory as the Wathnan Racing team seek a repeat of last year’s Royal Ascot heroics.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained duo gave the Qatar-based operation the perfect start to their ownership enterprise, with Gregory scooping the Queen’s Vase and Courage Mon Ami claiming Thursday’s feature, both in the hands of Frankie Dettori.

Gregory would go on to place at Doncaster in the final Classic of the season and is now set to join his stablemate in the staying division this term, with connections keen to keep them apart before their joint-target at the royal meeting.

Both hold entries for the Boodles Yorkshire Cup on May 17, while Sandown’s Henry II Stakes a week later is another possible option for the duo to tune up for their main summer assignment.

Richard Brown, racing adviser for the owners, said: “Both are well and pointing towards the Ascot Gold Cup and obviously there are a few races they can run in before then.

“John and Thady are still to decide who is going where and where either of them is going to go.

Royal Ascot 2023 – Day Two – Ascot Racecourse
Gregory ridden by Frankie Dettori (left) winning the Queen’s Vase (John Walton/PA).

“There are only a couple of options and at the moment we’re slightly nervous about the ground. It may be that they both have to run in the same race, but we hope that is not the case.

“There is obviously York and Sandown and both races feed nicely into Ascot.”

Meanwhile, another of Wathnan’s inaugural stars, Isaac Shelby, has run his last race, with the son of Night Of Thunder retired after suffering an injury when second in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein at the end of last season.

Trained by Brian Meehan, the consistent operator was acquired by Wathnan after claiming the Greenham Stakes on his three-year-old bow and was only a whisker away from Classic honours in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains on his first outing in their colours.

“We’ve retired Isaac Shelby and he suffered an injury in France when he ran on Arc day,” continued Brown.

“He’s back sound but there was risk with going back and racing him and considering he nearly gave Wathnan a dream start in Paris, there was absolutely no chance they were going to risk the horse, so they have retired him.

“A plan hasn’t been made for him, but he’s in Newmarket and we’re just letting him down and we will figure things out for him in the coming months.”



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Leading Qatari trainer Hamad Al-Jehani to make Newmarket move for Wathnan

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Wathnan Racing have extended their British presence further with the appointment of champion-elect Qatari trainer Hamad Al-Jehani in Newmarket.

Al-Jehani will be based in the lower yard of Tom Clover’s Kremlin House Stable and will initially train a small string owned by Wathnan, the racing operation of Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The 35-year-old began training in 2013 and now oversees a stable of 80 horses in Doha, where he will remain for the winter having already trained 53 winners during their season.

Hamad Al-Jehani is making the move to Newmarket
Hamad Al-Jehani is making the move to Newmarket (Neville Hopwood/Blandford Bloodstock)

He said: “I am excited to have the chance to train in Newmarket. It’s an amazing opportunity for me to work in this historic training centre.

“I have been attending the sales in Newmarket for many years and have long been an admirer of the world-class facilities. I’m really looking forward to getting started.”

Olly Tait, Wathnan Racing adviser, said: “Hamad’s had a brilliant first season training Wathnan horses in Qatar and we are delighted to be giving him this experience.

“Alban de Mieulle, who also trains for Wathnan in Qatar, takes a number of horses to France in the summer and had great success with Bolthole last year. It would be wonderful if Hamad can do something similar in Newmarket.’

Al-Jehani has secured the services of Tommy Allen as his assistant trainer and he leaves the stable of George Boughey to take up the post.

Boughey said: “I am obviously very sorry to lose Tommy after what has been a hugely successful three years together but he is leaving very
much with our blessing.

“It’s a great chance for him and I’ve no doubt he will be an enormous asset to Hamad Al-Jehani. Henry Morshead has worked with me and Tommy for the past season and will take over his place.”



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James Doyle to join Wathnan Racing as number one rider

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James Doyle will join Wathnan Racing as retained rider for the 2024 Flat season.

The 35-year-old has ridden as second jockey for Godolphin since 2015 and tasted Classic success in the royal blue silks in 2022 when partnering Charlie Appleby’s Coroebus to 2000 Guineas glory.

However, Doyle – who partnered Kingman, among others, when he was the retained rider for Juddmonte – will ride as number one for the Qatar-based Wathnan operation from the new year when his contract with Godolphin expires.

Doyle has already worn the Wathnan silks in victory, guiding Adrian Keatley’s Ballymount Boy home at Doncaster on Saturday, and has a plethora of high-profile mounts to look forward to, including Ascot Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami and fellow Royal Ascot winner Gregory.

Ballymount Boy and James Doyle on their way to winning the William Hill Prospect Stakes at Doncaster
Ballymount Boy and James Doyle on their way to winning the William Hill Prospect Stakes at Doncaster (Richard Sellers/PA)

“It is a tremendous honour for me to sign for Wathnan,” said Doyle, in a statement released by Wathan Racing on Monday afternoon.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for me going forward with His Highness Sheikh Tamim’s Wathnan Racing and I’m greatly looking forward to working with Olly Tait, Richard Brown and the rest of the team.

“I want to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, Charlie Appleby and everyone at Godolphin for the unstinting support they’ve given me over the last nine years. It’s been a wonderful time and I have enjoyed literally every moment. But this is an incredible new venture and I can’t wait to get started in January.”

Many of Doyle’s biggest victories have come when riding for long-time Godolphin ally Appleby, and the Moulton Paddocks handler has fond memories of their time together.

James Doyle celebrates winning the 2000 Guineas with Coroebus
James Doyle celebrates winning the 2000 Guineas with Coroebus (Tim Goode/PA)

He said: “James has been a key member of our team for his whole time with us and, whilst we will miss him greatly, he is leaving very much with our blessing and we wish him all the very best with this exciting new chapter in his riding career.

“James and I enjoyed many big days together on the racecourse, not the least of which was Coroebus winning the 2000 Guineas last year, but he also rode a number of other stable stars like Blue Point and Naval Crown.

“To my mind, one of his great rides for us was aboard Rebel’s Romance in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland where he was quite superb. So we will continue to use James whenever his new commitments permit because he’s a world-class jockey.”

Wathnan Racing’s Adviser Olly Tait added: “Wathnan is delighted to have retained the services of James Doyle. He is a fantastic rider and an incredible addition to the team. We are all looking forward to working closely with James in the coming years.”



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Mister Sketch to kick off Wathnan career in Mill Reef

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Mister Sketch will be sporting the colours of Wathnan Racing when he returns to Newbury for the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes.

The Eve Johnson Houghton-trained youngster – who is one of 14 confirmed for the Group Two event – was narrowly beaten at the Berkshire track on debut in July before setting the record straight in style at Salisbury last month.

There the strapping son of Territories romped to an emphatic nine-and-a-half-length success which alerted his new ownership team to his potential and they are excited to see him take the leap into deeper waters when he wears their silks for the first time on Saturday afternoon.

“The team is very excited to have one with Eve,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser to the owners.

“He’s a lovely, big horse and I was really taken with him when I went to see him and we’re looking forward to seeing him run in the Mill Reef.

“He’s a big lad and whatever he does this year, I’ll be really surprised if he doesn’t do better next year.”

The Qatar-based ownership enterprise have another smart two-year-old on their hands in Richard Fahey’s Native American, who has impressed in two unbeaten performances so far, and was last seen scooping a valuable sales race at the Curragh earlier this month.

Native American impressed when winning at the Curragh
Native American impressed when winning at the Curragh (Damien Eagers/PA)

He has a plethora of big-race options both at home and abroad for the autumn with connections keen to test the son of Sioux Nation in Pattern company in his next start.

But with the feedback from jockey Colin Keane indicating Native American would prefer a sounder surface, all options remain on the table for now, with his next outing set to be determined by the weather forecast.

“Richard was keen to take him over there for the experience – travelling overnight and all those things that go with it,” continued Brown, reflecting on Native American’s successful raid to Ireland.

“We were delighted he won and hopefully we can build from here, but Colin said he did not enjoy the ground and I think we’ll be avoiding soft and/or tacky ground, from now on.

Curragh Races – Sunday 10th September
Jockey Colin Keane with winning connections after Native American won in Ireland (Damien Eagers/PA)

“I suppose we just we have to be on weather watch now for the autumn targets and we would be keen to avoid soft ground.

“He’s a big horse and he’s got all the scope to be a better horse next year. We’re obviously keen to run him again, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he didn’t run until next year.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to find somewhere with decent ground before the end of the season to drop him in at stakes level.”



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Courage Mon Ami pencilled in for Cadran finale

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A trip to France for the Prix du Cadran is next on the agenda for Courage Mon Ami after coming off second best in his latest clash with Coltrane at York last week.

John and Thady Gosden’s son of Frankel raised the roof at Royal Ascot when providing jockey Frankie Dettori with his ninth victory in the Gold Cup, narrowly outpointing the Andrew Balding-trained Coltrane.

Courage Mon Ami lost his unbeaten record when only sixth in the Goodwood Cup, a race in which Coltrane finished third, and the trilogy took place in the Lonsdale Cup on the Knavesmire on Friday.

With the Gosden runner carrying a 3lb penalty for his Gold Cup win, he was beaten a length and a half by his old rival and connections are now eyeing one final outing this season on Arc weekend in Paris.

Courage Mon Ami emerged victorious at Royal Ascot
Courage Mon Ami emerged victorious at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“I thought he probably ran right up to form, as John said afterwards carrying the 3lb penalty is tough over that trip,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser to owners Wathnan Racing.

“We were delighted with the run because it sort of showed that Ascot wasn’t a fluke. We hoped it wasn’t and Coltrane is a very good horse on his day – they’re the best stayers around really.

“Our horse was strong at the line, we know he gets two and a half miles obviously and I’d say that the Cadran will be his next target.

“Qatar sponsors the Arc meeting, so it’s important for those reasons as well, but that aside, the Cadran looks the obvious race for him and that’s exactly what Frankie said afterwards.”

Brown admitted the prospect of soft ground at ParisLongchamp is a slight concern, adding: “I would be a bit worried about a bit of soft ground. You never know really until you try it, I think he’ll be OK but you never know.

“After the Cadran that will be it for him this year as everything is geared around trying to win a second Gold Cup.”

Courage Mon Ami was one of four horses to perform well in defeat at the Ebor Festival for the Qatari ownership group, with leading St Leger hope Gregory third in the Great Voltigeur, Ballymount Boy second in the Acomb and Isaac Shelby fourth in the City of York Stakes.

Brown admits the team left the track with mixed emotions.

He said: “Of course you want to win, that’s what it’s all about, but we had two seconds, a third and a fourth and if one of those had turned into a win, it would have been a hell of a week.

“We came away a little frustrated, but at the same time they’ve all run to a very high level.”

Ballymount Boy (far right) was beaten into second at York
Ballymount Boy (far right) was beaten into second at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Ballymount Boy was snapped up by Wathnan Racing after finishing second to subsequent Prix Morny hero Vandeek in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood – and while he again had to make do with the runner-up spot at York behind Indian Run, Brown is optimistic he will have his day in the future.

He said: “He ran well, possibly he’d prefer soft ground and also he was a breeze-up horse who has had some quick runs, so we’ll give him a break now.

“I was actually delighted. He obviously bumped into one at Goodwood and I’d say there’s a fair chance he’s just bumped into another good one at York.

“We’re going to give him a bit of a rest and give him just one more run this year, I would say.

“He’s shown he’s a Group level colt and I think he’ll only be better next year as well as he’s still relatively unfurnished.”

Kinross (left) was too good for Isaac Shelby (right) at Goodwood and York
Kinross (left) was too good for Isaac Shelby (right) at Goodwood and York (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Brian Meehan’s Isaac Shelby faced his elders on the fourth and final day of the meeting and while far from disgraced behind Kinross, who he had pushed to a neck in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood at the start of the month, Brown feels he slightly underperformed.

“It’s the quickest we’ve run him back and I wonder if he was a touch flat,” he added.

“Kinross is a brilliant horse and we were a bit further behind him than we were at Goodwood, which I suppose makes you think he was just a touch flat.

“We haven’t made any plans for him. Myself, Brian and Olly Tait will sit down and do that in a couple of weeks, but I’d imagine we’ll give him a six-week break now and give him one more run somewhere.

“He’s learning to settle as he gets older. He’s a tall, narrow horse and I think he’s going to be a better four-year-old.”



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Gregory poised to carry Wathnan hopes in Goodwood Cup

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Ascot Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami is likely to bypass the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, with stablemate Gregory poised to be owners Wathnan Racing’s chosen representative in the Sussex Downs marathon.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, both horses carry an unbeaten record and struck gold in the hands of Frankie Dettori for their Qatari-based owners at Royal Ascot last month.

Courage Mon Ami is disputing favouritism with Coltrane for the two-mile Group One during the Qatar Goodwood Festival, but may have to wait for his chance to confirm Ascot form over Andrew Balding’s Gold Cup runner-up, with connections keen to keep the mileage low on the new star of the staying ranks.

Therefore, it is Queen’s Vase hero Gregory who has the chance to fill the void in one of the meeting’s feature events, as he tunes up for a tilt at the St Leger in the autumn.

“They have both come out of Ascot really well, I was in there looking at them last week and I was absolutely delighted with how they look,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser for the owners.

“Gregory is a big horse who is only going to get better with age and we won’t overrace him this year. We will probably only run him twice more. His main aim is the Leger and he may well take in the Goodwood Cup on the way because the three-year-old weight allowance is really significant.

“At the moment we’re training both Courage Mon Ami and Gregory for the race, but only one of them will go. We’re favouring Gregory because of the weight allowance and we want to keep the miles low on Courage Mon Ami.”

Gregory (left) winning the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot
Gregory (left) winning the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

With Gregory the envisaged Wathnan Goodwood number one, sights for Courage Mon Ami are already being pointed towards a defence of his Gold Cup crown, with a return to Ascot for the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (October 21) a possible aim for the back-end of the current campaign.

“Courage Mon Ami is a four-year-old and we have seen in the past that those horses who get to the top of the staying division can go back and win at Ascot again, so his main aim already is next year’s Gold Cup,” added Brown.

“He will probably run twice more this year with obvious back-end targets being Ascot or the Cadran (ParisLongchamp, September 30) and on the way we can go to York (Lonsdale Cup, August 29) or the Doncaster Cup (September 15) if we don’t go to Goodwood.”

The objective is to keep Courage Mon Ami and Gregory apart for as long as possible, but Brown concedes there may come a time when the talented stablemates may have to lock horns.

Courage Mon Ami winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot
Courage Mon Ami winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

He continued: “We will be guided John and his team and where they want to go. We will keep them separate because at the end of the day Wathnan have only got nine horses at the moment and running them both in the same Group One is not something we want to do.

“We’re favouring Gregory at the moment for Goodwood, but they are both going to be trained for it in case Gregory couldn’t get there. Then Courage Mon Ami can drop into his spot.

“The St Leger is Gregory’s number one target and then we can worry about what we do next year.

“If we are in the fortunate position that they are both fit, sound, healthy and training well then that is when we might not be able to keep them separate. But at this stage we will try to keep them apart.”



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