AMERICAN SALUTES TEAM WORK AFTER CROSSING 500-WIN MARK
rainer Doug Watson has come a long way since he quit his desk job to become a ‘hot walker’ at Arlington International Racecourse in Illinois, US, close to three decades ago.
Today, he is one of the most established trainers in the UAE with five gleaming trainer’s championship trophies proudly arranged in his cabinet.
On Thursday, the affable American was celebrating another major milestone when he crossed 500 careers winners since taking out a UAE trainer’s licence in 2004.
And as you would expect from a character such as his, he attributed the achievement to his ‘fantastic’ team at the Red Stables, which is located in the heart of Dubai.
“It is a nice landmark to reach, 500, and it is testament to all the team who work so hard on a daily basis,” he said after saddling four winners at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday night. “I couldn’t have done it without them. They do a fantastic job.
Great owners
“We have some great owners. They give us some nice horses to achieve something like this.”
Three of Watson’s winners, Thegreatcollection, Cosmo Charlie and Dehbashi were ridden by stable jockey Pat Dobbs, after Dane O’Neill kicked off Watson’s magical evening when riding Moosir to victory in the Longines Gents La Grande Classique in the famous silks of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.
Godolphin Mile hopeful Cosmos Charlie looked the most impressive of the Red Stables’ winners when leading home a Watson 1-2-3 in the feature race of the evening, the 1,600 metre Longines Ladies Master Collection, over a mile.
Faulkner, having his first start in since March 2016, fan on strongly for with at Layl an third.
“Cosmo Charlie has really strengthened up since last season and is a horse we have high hopes for this campaign. He looks a really nice prospect second place eye catching and, I would imagine, we will look at the Godolphin Mile with him,” he said.
“Al Maktoum Challenge Rround 1 is definitely on his agenda and he might run once more before then.”
Thegreatcollection, who ran out a comfortable winner of the Longines Gents Master Collection, had the honour of bringing up Watson’s landmark 500th winner. Stable companion Lytham St Annes was the runner-up.
Watson said: “Both have run very well and we were quite confident with Thegreatcollection after his excellent third here two weeks ago.
“It is quite a quick turnaround between races but he was in great form in the interim so we were happy to come back tonight.”
The Longines Ladies La Grande Classique, was won by Secret Trade and Tadhg O’Shea for Ali Rashid Al Rayhi.