Crimson Advocate on an upward spiral

New Paper

2 days ago

A small field of eight fillies and mares will contest the £275,000 (S$478,000) Group 1 Falmouth Stakes (1,600m) at Newmarket on July 11, but it is still riveting for its quality and competitiveness, highlighted by a two-horse renewal of hostilities - Crimson Advocate and Cinderella's Dream.
The pair quinellaed the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (1,600m) in that order at Royal Ascot on June 18, with Wathnan Racing's Crimson Advocate a clear-cut winner over Godolphin's Cinderella's Dream by nearly two lengths.
With both mares sharing the top-weight of 61kg this time, Cinderella's Dream's task to turn the tables has arguably been rendered easier with a 1½kg swing.
But, the separation visual of Crimson Advocate sweeping past her rival under gun Kiwi jockey James McDonald in the Duke Of Cambridge was so breathtaking that weights and measures might not be enough to overturn the result on Friday (at 10.35pm, Singapore time).
The penny seems to have really dropped for Crimson Advocate since she came from America as a speedball boasting a record of three wins over 1,000m, including the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot two years ago.
Not only has the Nyquist four-year-old gone to another level, but she has also added a new string to her bow as a miler.
Since the Wathnan takeover and transfer to leading UK trainers John and Thady Gosden at Newmarket, she also won the Listed Conqueror Fillies' Stakes (1,600m) at Goodwood on May 3 before the Royal Ascot triumph.
"She's a different filly this year and has taken her form to a completely new level," said Wathnan racing adviser Richard Brown to Racing Post.
"Cinderella's Dream doesn't have the penalty this time, we're back at level weights, but she's a filly on the up and John and Thady are happy she seems to have come out of Ascot okay."
The mare's progress is on an upward trajectory that her ambitious owners are keen to emulate in their own business model.
It may be years before Godolphin or Coolmore are unseated as the two leading conglomerates of horse racing, but the emerging Wathnan Racing, the brainchild of the Emir of Qatar, head of the wealthy Al Thani family, is making swift inroads on the global scene.
Ever since the gold, blue and red silks flew high in the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup (4,000m) in June 2023, more worldwide winners have joined the juggernaut, none more famous than surprise shot Hit Show in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup (2,000m) in April.
Strong favourites to sweep this year's Royal Ascot with a powerful squad, Wathnan did not disappoint. They were crowned the leading owners at the conclusion of the five-day event in June with five wins, including their headline winner Lazzat in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m).
Other winners at the iconic summer week were Haatem, French Master and Humidity, all ridden by Wathnan's No. 1 jockey James Doyle since 2024.
Interestingly, the English rider missed out on Crimson Advocate's Royal Ascot win as he was on third-placed Fallen Angel, also a Wathnan ward, with Longines world's best jockey James McDonald doing the steering.
Doyle will jump back aboard in the Falmouth Stakes, but Brown has not forgotten McDonald's glowing post-race report.
"James McDonald has ridden plenty of Group 1 winners and he was pretty taken with her; he thought she would be up to competing at the top level," he said.
Wathnan are clearly not resting on their laurels. A Falmouth win by Crimson Advocate would be another Group 1 statement of being more than just a bit player on the world's racing scene.
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