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 stakes 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 (G1), for which he is a best-priced 12-1 shot for trainer Karl Burke.
The 4-year-old was third behind Inisherin in the Duke of York Stakes (G2) over six furlongs when last seen May 14, and the second-placed filly that day, Flora Of Bermuda (IRE), 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 Summer Stakes (G3) at York.
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."
