Exclusive: Case Clay discusses Commandment’s Kentucky Derby prospects; plus thoughts on Wathnan’s Saturday runners at Churchill Downs

It’s finally race weekend in Louisville, Kentucky as ‘The Run for the Roses’ takes place on May 2.

Known as the greatest two minutes in sport, we caught up with Case Clay, Wathnan Racing Manager for their US operations.

Clay purchased Commandment, currently +500 favorite with some odds compilers for the Kentucky Derby 2026.

Speaking just days before Commandment’s historic run at Churchill Downs, live on Saturday evening, Clay said:

"It’s a very exciting week.

"The horses have put in their final breezes, leading up to the main event. In the mornings, getting out on the racetrack, seeing the horses stretching their legs, there is so much buzz behind the scenes with all the owners arriving.

"It's just a magical week and everyone is holding their breath that everything goes well just over 24 hours before the big race."

While some horses have had mixed preparations in the build up, Commandment has taken a tried-and-tested route, winning the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park towards the end of March.

A winner at the same track a few weeks previously in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, Clay believes that the timings have proved perfect for the son of superstar sire Into Mischief.

Clay said: "The preparation has just gone very well because the Florida Derby was 5 weeks back, and so it was a great amount of time for him to be able to recover between races.

"The spacing between the Fountain of Youth, the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby just worked out really well.

"As for the draw in stall 6, I think it's a very good draw. We're happy with it and there seems to be some speed around him.

"The way the Kentucky Derby works with 20 horses going around in an oval is that whoever's going to win is going to need a good trip.

"I know that sounds pretty vague, but the nice thing about Commandment specifically is that he really hasn't had an ideal trip in any of his races, and up until now, he's really just found a way to win. He does have that will to win himself, and Luis (Saez) will suit him really well.

"We’re going to need some luck, but I do like the 6, and we're ready to roll."

Will Commandment aim to strike late once more?

While Wathnan have built a similar approach to their UK counterparts, placing horses with numerous trainers, Brad Cox is well-known as one of America’s best.

A Louisville native, Cox won the 2021 edition of The Run for the Roses, but only after controversy following the race. He’d love to step inside the winners’ circle directly following the two minute showpiece, but Commandment is likely to take ‘the brave man's route’ to do so, closing gradually from off the pace.

"Oh yeah, I think the tactics will remain the same, it’s just a case of finding the gaps," Clay continued.

"As far as what to do right out of the gate, I think Brad and Luis will have a conversation and we’ve got a lot of trust in them both.

"Brad's had a lot of luck with him too, but finding the gaps at the end will be the key, and hopefully he'll have an opportunity to do so."

"We’ve had some great success, especially with Richard Brown (UK Racing Manager).

"The Dubai World Cup was another one. Between Royal Ascot victories and the Dubai World Cup, this would be, and to answer your question, on the US side, absolutely, this would be the biggest success for us on this side of the world.

"If we would be so fortunate, it would be massive for Wathnan Racing and would just add to the Ascot successes, alongside the Dubai World Cup."

The rest of Wathnan’s Churchill Downs team on Saturday

Commandment isn’t Wathnan’s only chance of success this weekend. The organization, fronted by the Emir of Qatar, has an extraordinary couple of hours on Saturday, where all of their runners participate in the last four races of the evening.

Would just one winner on the card be enough to appease Wathnan this weekend?

"It’s tough to get horses in such prestigious races on days like this and the undercard is a mix of exciting maidens allowances and Grade 1 events," said Clay.

"Make Me King is coming over for the Old Forester. That's a non-US-trained horse that Hamad Al-Jehani trains and Richard Brown manages. So, we’re taking a shot there with José Ortiz riding.

"Of the others, Noble Affair is quite an exciting horse and I think he could be dangerous in the 6.5 allowance race.

"Act of Parliament is making his first start; physically, he looks like more of a 2-turn horse, but this 7-furlongs I think will be a good debut for him as far as getting him some race experience. He’s ready to run, so we're looking forward to seeing how that goes too."

From Bloodstock to Racing Management

Alongside his role as Racing Manager, Clay purchases the majority of Wathnan Racing horses, looking for 2-turn superstars of the future.

Alongside the purchase of Commandment, Clay also bought Act of Parliament, who makes his debut as a three-year-old towards the end of proceedings at Churchill Downs.

"Yeah, so they both were at auctions," Clay continued.

"Commandment was at the Keeneland September sales. I had actually seen him pass in at Saratoga the previous month, and then he showed back up in September.

"While he wasn't at the time, they all changed so much, but at the time he looked like a powerful horse, being by Into Mischief, who was a Grade 1 winner. It was one of those scenarios where we thought, let's go for it, because he’s very well bred.

"He probably wasn't the beauty contest winner; if he was, then he would have brought a lot more money, but that was the thought process there.

"With Act of Parliament, that was at the 2-year-old sale at OBS, a big beautiful horse. He looks like he's a 2-turn, kind of scopey, strong, powerful horse.

"We knew he'd take time, but my remit is to try and find 2-turn dirt horses and he looks the type."

The future of Wathnan in the US

Wathnan are 12 from 27 this year at the time of writing, with a focus and emphasis on good quality horses reaping rewards thus far.

Although the methodology is similar in the UK, the numbers are much greater, while so is the spread of horses between sprint, middle and longer term distances. So how does Clay believe Wathnan will look to progress in the years to come?

He said: "The horses are with great trainers; fortunately, it's gone our way in the first quarter of the year.

"We’re quite pleased with how things are going and just happy with the horses, happy with the trainers and the jockeys as well.

"You try to surround yourself with people who are very good at what they do and then hopefully things fall our way on the way back."

"At the moment we're focused on the dirt; we do have 5 US mares on this farm and we’ve started a little bit of breeding.

"The two-turn dirt races are still the priority, but who knows, things may evolve.

"The main thing we looked for with what we did last year was to look for two-turn dirt horses, but there are exceptions, like Heredia and that profile of horse.

"That being said, if I miss at the sales and try to buy a 2-turn dirt horse and they turn out to be a miler, then we'll slot those horses in the mile races.

"For example, Noble Affair; he's one that is a very fast horse, and will he get 2 turns eventually? I'm not sure, but we'll slot him into the appropriate races, and just see what he wants to do with time.

Whether it’s a mile or the famous two-turn events for their US string, one thing is for sure; Wathnan Racing are here to stay.