American trained Sandal’s Song (USA), the latest addition to Wathnan Racing’s Royal Ascot squad, is set for the 5-furlong Norfolk Stakes (G2) on Thursday, June 19 at Royal Ascot.
The two-year-old colt won a berth and $25,000 travel voucher to the Royal meeting on his debut in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream Park – one of just two Royal Ascot qualifiers in the country along with the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies’ Stakes.
Trainer George Weaver had his first Royal Ascot success in 2023, when Crimson Advocate – now owned by Wathnan Racing and trained by John & Thady Gosden – won the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes.
Sandal’s Song, by Mendelssohn (USA), was purchased for a relatively small $75,000 at the Kentucky Fasig-Tipton yearling sale by his original owner, Dew Sweepers, and is currently a 25-1 chance with William Hill.
He arrived on British shores on Tuesday, June 10 and is being stabled at the National Stud in Newmarket.
Blair Golen, assistant trainer to George Weaver, said: “He’s always been straight forward to train. Ever since he came into the barn, he’s always been a classy, honest, straightforward horse.
“He was training well into his first race – he had so much class for his age, and it translated into his race. Since then, he’s been breezing well. We went to Saratoga so we could breeze on the turf there and it went well.”
On the $25,000 travel stipend, Golen said: “The travel voucher is great as an incentive. Previously, outside of Wesley Ward, we didn’t realise have a US presence on the big British days’ racing. The money just makes it more feasible and stuff like this needs to be done more often so that more people want to come to the UK and set it as a goal.
“There’s a lot of admin that goes into the travelling to make sure it’s all good. Sandal’s Song travelled great.”
“I’ve done the trip to Royal Ascot before in 2023 when I came with Crimson Advocate. It was a fun, new adventure – I’d never been to the UK before and when we won it made it even better.”
“The prestige and the feel of Ascot is just huge. George had a runner here in 2015 and, since then, has been so keen for a winner. That’s one of the reasons why Crimson Advocate was so special.”
Regarding the preparation, Golen is positive. She said: “Everything’s been flawless so far. We’re very excited to be here but we’re got a calm before the storm mentality though. The horses feel it, and we don’t want that so we’re trying to keep it as calm and easy as possible. That’s why we came to the National Stud, because it’s so calm here, the gallops are great, and everyone is very nice.
“Newmarket is a cute, quaint town, it’s similar to Saratoga. Although, over there we don’t have horses riding through the town. But still, it’s a racing town.”
Wathnan Racing, the ownership name for the Emir of Watar, Sheikj Tamim Al Thani, have invested heavily in their Royal Ascot stable this year, also purchasing sprinters Lazzat (FR) and Night Raider (IRE), Flora Of Bermuda (IRE). The juvenile Humidity (GB) was also purchased from Chevely Park Stud and looks likely to run in the Chesham Stakes.
The Wathnan Racing operation were successful at the Royal meeting last year too, purchasing the likes of Courage Mon Ami (GB), Gregory (GB), Haatem (IRE) and English Oak (GB), all whom scored at the fixture.