Wathnan add to burgeoning Royal Ascot team with purchase of two top sprinters

Wathnan Racing have added more firepower to their expanding ranks with the purchase of two progressive Royal Ascot-bound sprinters. 

The Qatari-backed operation have scooped up Listed winner Night Raider from Clipper Logistics with a view to dropping him to five furlongs for the first time in the King Charles III Stakes, for which he is a best-priced 12-1 shot for trainer Karl Burke. 

The four-year-old was third behind Inisherin in the Duke of York Stakes over six furlongs when last seen, and the second-placed filly that day, Flora Of Bermuda, is also set to join Wathnan's ranks after being sold by the Bermuda Racing Club.

The Andrew Balding-trained filly has become a standing dish in Europe's top sprints, with third- and fourth-placed efforts in Group 1 races alongside last season's victory in the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York.

Flora Of Bermuda: holds entries alongside Night Raider in Royal Ascot's two Group 1 sprintsCredit: John Grossick

She is a 20-1 chance for the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes and a general 14-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the royal meeting.

Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown said: "We're thrilled to add Night Raider to the Wathnan team. He looked very fast in the Duke of York Stakes and we're really looking forward to seeing how he gets on at five furlongs.

"We were impressed with Flora Of Bermuda's comeback at York too, and it looks as if she can hold her own against the very best. Andrew and his team have done a fine job with her, campaigning her with great consistency in the highest class. With luck, one of these big ones will fall her way. She certainly won't fail for lack of courage."

Wathnan Racing's latest purchases come less than a week after they acquired the Balding-trained Humidity, who is on target for the Chesham Stakes, while they have also recently bought the French-trained sprinter Lazzat, favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on June 21.

The owners had four winners at Royal Ascot last year, including Haatem, who won the Group 3 Jersey Stakes after being bought privately. They also had two winners the previous year headlined by Courage Mon Ami's triumph in the Gold Cup.

King Charles III Stakes (3.40 Ascot, June 17)
William Hill: 5 Believing, 6 Asfoora, 8 Regional, 10 Night Raider, 12 Mgheera, Starlust, 14 Kind Of Blue, 16 Whistlejacket, 20 bar.

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (3.40 Ascot, June 21)
Coral: 7-2 Lazzat, 5 Inisherin, 6 Storm Boy, 8 Satono Reve, Topgear, Kind Of Blue, 12 Believing, 14 Flora Of Bermuda, 16 bar.

Read more:

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Exciting juvenile sold 'for a hell of a lot of money' to new owner ahead of Royal Ascot run 

In foal to Frankel but ready to spearhead George Boughey's Royal Ascot team - Believing on course for Asfoora rematch 

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