It has been an outstanding year already for Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s Wathnan Racing operation, including ending the Qatar Goodwood Festival as leading owner and chalking up a quartet of victories at Royal Ascot.
On Saturday (September 5th), the Qatari-owned operation will bid to secure its first British Group One success of 2026 with five-year-old Kind Of Blue (James Fanshawe/James Doyle) and Paborus (Ed Bethell/Danny Tudhope) set to go to post in the £400,000 Betfair Sprint Cup.
This will be Kind Of Blue’s third consecutive appearance in the six-furlong contest, with the son of Blue Point having finished runner-up for the past two years. In 2024, he went down by a head to Montassib and last year came home a length and a quarter behind the re-opposing Big Mojo. Sponsor Betfair currently makes Kind Of Blue its 5-1 joint-second favourite, with his trainer James Fanshawe seeking a third Sprint Cup success following on from Society Rock (2012) and The Tin Man (2018).
Trainer Ed Bethell won the Sprint Cup in 2023 with Regional and this time around saddles Paborus. The lightly-raced five-year-old was an impressive winner of the Group Three Chipchase Stakes over six furlongs on the all-weather at Newcastle back in June and steps back to that distance at the weekend, having last been seen when eighth, beaten five and a half lengths, in the seven-furlong Group One City Of York Stakes at York on August 22. Betfair currently make Paborus a 12-1 chance.
Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan Racing, reported: “I don’t think Kind Of Blue actually needs soft ground, and also has very good form on better ground. What he can do is go on any ground really, and I think that helps him as some horses don’t really handle soft ground.
“He’s been second for the last two years and was maybe a bit unlucky last year but that’s just the way it sometimes goes in these sprints.
“This is his final year of racing, and he will be off to stud at the end of the season. although plans have not been made as to where he will stand yet.”
“I thought Pabarous ran well at York last time, and James thought after that run that going back to six furlongs would suit him. He won’t mind the ground and is an interesting contender.”
3.40pm, Saturday 5th September
£400,000 Betfair Sprint Cup (Group 1) 6f
Current Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Almeraq 4 9 5 Shadwell Estate Company Ltd William Haggas Tom Marquand
- American Affair 6 9 5 Barraston Racing & Mr J S Goldie Jim Goldie Paul Mulrennan
- Aramram (IRE) 5 9 5 Mr Ziad A. Galadari Richard Hannon Sean Levey
- Big Mojo (IRE) 4 9 5 RP Racing Ltd Michael Appleby William Buick
- Comanche Brave (IRE) 4 9 5 Mr Muhaideb A. Al Muhaideb Donnacha Aidan O'Brien Ireland
- Double Rush (IRE) 4 9 5 Ace Stud Andrew Balding Shane Foley
- James's Delight (IRE) 5 9 5 Paul & Clare Rooney Clive Cox
- Kind of Blue 5 9 5 Wathnan Racing James Fanshawe James Doyle
- Marvelman (IRE) 4 9 5 Bond Thoroughbred Limited Andrew Balding P. J. McDonald
- Mitbaahy (IRE) 7 9 5 Mrs Fitri Hay Charles Hills
- Paborus 5 9 5 Wathnan Racing Edward Bethell Daniel Tudhope
- Coppull 3 9 3 Mr David W. Armstrong Clive Cox Hector Crouch
- Division 3 9 3 Wathnan Racing William Haggas
13 five-day confirmations
1 Irish-trained
Final declarations for the Betfair Sprint Cup will be known shortly after 10am tomorrow.
Betfair Sprint Cup, latest Betfair odds:
- 3-1 Almeraq
- 5-1 Kind Of Blue, Coppull
- 11-2 Comanche Brave
- 7-1 Marvelman
- 8-1 Division, Big Mojo
- 12-1 Paborus
- 16-1 American Affair
- 20-1 Double Rush
- 33-1 James's Delight, Aramram
- 40-1 Mitbaahy
The going at Haydock Park is currently Soft.
