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Emir of Qatar goes on Royal Ascot spending spree snapping up six top contenders

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Emir of Qatar goes on Royal Ascot spending spree snapping up six top contenders

The Emir’s Wathnan Racing arm, which enjoyed two winners at last year’s royal meeting, has added 2,000 Guineas runner-up Haatem and a horse trained by Willie Mullins to team

Frankie Dettori celebrates Gold Cup victory for Wathnan Racing with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is not only a major date in the calendar for Britain’s royal family but overseas heads of state too.

Last year King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who attended their first royal meeting together since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, experienced the thrill of having a winner at the track with their horse Desert Hero.




They were not the only ‘royals’ to enjoy success on the track with the colours of Wathnan Racing visiting the winners’ enclosure for the first time.

There were wins for the newly acquired Courage Mon Ami, in the Gold Cup, and Gregory.

It subsequently transpired that Wathnan Racing was owned by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Wathnan Racing has been expanding ever since, appointing James Doyle as first jockey, and buying more talent for him to ride.

Keen to make its mark again at Royal Ascot, Wathnan Racing has purchased six horses, the star of which is Haatem, who has finished second in both the 2,000 Guineas and Irish 2,000 Guineas.

“Our remit was to produce a team of horses for Ascot that the Emir can enjoy and be proud of,” said racing advisor Richard Brown.

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