Haatem (8/1) returned to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since last year’s G3 Jersey Stakes with a strong performance in the Listed Wolferton Stakes for Wathnan Racing.
Racing over further than a mile for the first time, the Richard Hannon-trained colt enjoyed a smooth passage from midfield under James Doyle and was delivered to challenge approaching the final furlong.
Haatem saw out the 10-furlong distance strongly as he pegged back Galen (13/2), with three-quarters of a length between the duo at the line. Fellow Wathnan runner King’s Gambit (4/1F) was the same distance further back 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 said: “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.
“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.”
Joseph O’Brien said Of Galen: “I am very proud of his run. He had a big penalty, so it was a good effort.”
King’s Gambit’s trainer Harry Charlton said: “Slight memories of last year [when 2nd in the Hampton Court Stakes], but I am pleased because that is him back to his best. Watching him turning in, he was 12 lengths off James [Doyle], who had a perfect trip on Haatem. King’s Gambit was closing all the time. As James McDonald said, if he’d been able to get a position two places closer, he would have been quite close at the end. He has run a good race, and I’m delighted for Wathnan.”