'Nothing serious' setback for Haatem, but the season is still over
Wathnan’s Royal Ascot winner will be aimed at top mile races next year.
After suffering a setback just before the start of the Prix Jacques le Marois, owners Wathnan Racing have decided to concentrate on Haatem's 2025 campaign, meaning he won't be racing again this season.
The son of Phoenix of Spain, trained by Richard Hannon, finished second in the Irish equivalent for former owner Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah and first in the 2000 Guineas.
A major acquisition for Qatari organisation Wathnan in the lead-up to Royal Ascot, he triumphantly retreated to seven furlongs at the summer feature event, outlasting Kikkuli in an exciting Jersey Stakes finale.
Haatem just holds off Kikkuli to win the Jersey Stakes at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/bEoaOrIQc7
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 22, 2024
When the opposition started to load for the crucial mile race, Haatem was withdrawn. At the time, he was a strong candidate for his planned return to Group One level at Deauville last month. However, big-race jockey James Doyle was not thrilled with his mount on the approach to the start.
After an investigation, the reason for Haatem's loss was determined. While it is considered "nothing serious," the colt still has entries for races like the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Qipco British Champions Day later in the autumn, but his connections have decided to end his three-year campaign.
The owners' racing advisor, Richard Brown, stated: "We've figured out what was bothering him that day, and the good news is it's nothing serious.
"But it would be a race against time to get him back for the obvious end-of-year targets, so we've drawn stumps and hope to have him back in top form for the big mile races next season."
