Wathnan Racing Hopeful Of Arc Weekend Success With Three Horses Heading To Longchamp

It has been a season to remember for Wathnan Racing who enjoyed four winners at Royal Ascot earlier this year and the powerful owners have three runners at this weekend’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting. 

Wathnan Racing Eyeing First Arc Weekend Winner

The exciting Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe takes place at Longchamp this weekend, and Wathnan Racing runners are hoping to make their mark at the meeting.

Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is the mastermind owner behind the Wathnan operation and four of his horses were Royal Ascot winners this season. On just her second career start, Leovanni landed the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes before Shareholder won the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes. English Oak was successful in the Buckingham Palace Stakes and Haatem rounded off a superb week when he held on willingly in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes.

Wathnan Racing keep on winning! A sweeping victory in The Jersey Stakes for HAATEM under James Doyle, giving him his fourth #RoyalAscot win this year. Superb from trainer Richard Hannon! pic.twitter.com/1ckQ7ju2Qo

— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 22, 2024

Now turning their attention to Longchamp, racing advisor Richard Brown spoke to the Racing Post: “It would be great to have a winner. We’re realistic, it’s a big ask but this is what it’s about, competing on the biggest stage, and the Arc meeting sponsored by Qatar is one of the highlights of the year.”

All Wathnan Racing Runners On Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Weekend

There is set to be three Wathnan Racing runners at Paris Longchamp this weekend, with the best horse racing betting sites pricing Fallen Angel as one of their best chances.

Fallen Angel – Prix de l’Opera

Irish 1000 Guineas hero Fallen Angel is currently 4/1 favourite for the Prix de l’Opera and has to have leading claims judged on her latest effort.

The Too Darn Hot filly was last seen losing by just a length to Porta Fortuna in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. That run was her first appearance for Wathnan Racing after being privately sold by Clipper Logistics.

Still fairly lightly raced, Fallen Angel should improve for her Irish Champions Weekend outing and the step up to 1m2f should suit according to Brown: “James Doyle and Karl Burke both think the step up in trip to a mile and a quarter will really suit her. I wouldn’t be worried about the likely soft ground and Karl says she’s come out of Leopardstown in great shape.”

Make Me King – Prix Daniel Wildenstein

As for Hamad Al Jehani’s Make Me King, the mile trip looks to bring the best out of him and he will go in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein.

This son of Dark Angel won the Group 3 Prix Quincey at Deuville back in August and Brown said “he’s been a real star.”

Rogue Lightning – Prix de l’Abbaye

Having ran well in this race last year, Tom Clover’s Rogue Lightning will look to better his fifth placed effort 12 months ago.

He was last seen in mid-September with a credible third in the Group 3 Prix du Petit Couvert over course and distance, seemingly enjoying the Paris track.

Brown is confident Rogue Lightning can give it his all in this race again: “This is his time of year and he ran very well in the race last year. His last race was his best this season. We’re probably going to try him in blinkers to sharpen him up and make him concentrate a bit more. The draw is very important and I hope we get a bit of luck.”

It would be no surprise to see all three of the Wathnan Racing runners perform to a high standard at Longchamp this weekend.