Phoenix Of Spain’s Haatem by a Whisker in the Jersey

[Wandering Eyes]

Wathnan Racing's dual Classic-placed acquisition Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}–Hard Walnut {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) went postward for Saturday's G3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot lumbered with a three-pound Group 3 penalty and defied that impost in game fashion to register a narrow victory in the seven-furlong test.

Haatem was swiftly into stride and settled into a comfortable rhythm slipstreaming fellow Wathnan contender Native American (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in a prominent fourth from the outset. Tanking forward on the bridle to lead approaching the quarter-mile pole, the 7-2 second favourite came under pressure as threats loomed with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and was driven out to bravely hold the late surge of Frankel's half-brother Kikkuli (GB) (Kingman {GB}) by a short-head. Johnny Murtagh trainee and 80-1 outsider Chicago Critic (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) recorded a career best of his own and finished one length adrift in third.

Pedigree Notes
Haatem is the fifth of six foals and one of three scorers out of a dual-winning half-sister to G3 Premio Carlo Vittadini and G3 Premio del Giubileo runner-up Father Frost (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and Listed Prix Pelleas, Listed Doncaster Mile and Listed Foundation Stakes placegetter Born To Be Alive (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}). His second dam Yaria (Ire) (Danehill), herself a daughter of G1 Phoenix Stakes runner-up Yara (Ire) (Sri Pekan), is a winning sibling of dual stakes scorer Emirates Gold (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}), Listed Prix Melisande victrix Yarastar (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and the stakes-placed Yario (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Haatem, half-brother to a yearling filly by Inns Of Court (Ire), hails from the family of Group 1-winning sires Homme De Loi (Ire) (Law Society) and Mister Majestic (Ire) (Tumble Wind).

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
JERSEY S.-G3, £150,000, Ascot, 6-22, 3yo, 7fT, 1:26.85, g/f.
1–HAATEM (IRE), 132, c, 3, by Phoenix Of Spain (Ire)
1st Dam: Hard Walnut (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Yaria (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Yara (Ire), by Sri Pekan
(€28,000 RNA Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 27,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Hyde Park Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-James Doyle. £85,065. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng & Ire, 13-4-2-3, $541,694. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Kikkuli (GB), 129, c, 3, Kingman (GB)–Kind (Ire), by Danehill. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Harry & Charlton. £32,250.
3–Chicago Critic (GB), 129, g, 3, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Criticism (GB), by Machiavellian. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Sam Mencoff & Tony Smurfit; B-Forenaghts Stud (GB); T-Johnny Murtagh. £16,140.
Margins: SHD, 1, 1. Odds: 3.50, 14.00, 80.00.
Also Ran: Mountain Bear (Ire), Zoum Zoum (GB), Never So Brave (Ire), Task Force (GB), River Tiber (Ire), Boiling Point (Ire), Pearls And Rubies, Indian Run (Ire), Ziggy's Dream (Ire), Son (GB), Eben Shaddad, Native American (Ire), Kortez Bay (Ire), Dark Tornado (Ire), El Bodon (Ire), Night Raider (Ire). Scratched: Take Me To Church (Ire).

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