WISS TIME FOR GOSDEN
TRAINER John Gosden has entered Wissahickon for Saturday’s Betway Listed Quebec Stakes at Lingfield.
The Newmarket handler will be hoping that his impressive Cambridgeshire winner will gain some black type.
He sauntered to a course and distance success back in May when hacking up by eight lengths.
“Wissahickon is being pointed at the Quebec Stakes and has been pleasing in his work on the Polytrack surface of late,” said Gosden.
He has plenty of experience of racing on artificial surfaces. We’ll see how he gets on at Lingfield before deciding on any future plans but we could look at the Winter Derby.”
Other entries include the Archie Watson-trained Mango Tango, who made a winning start for the yard over course and distance earlier this month when proving too good for Scarlet Dragon, who could re-oppose.
Goring, who was fourth in that race, could also take his chance at a track where he has won four times.
Last season’s champion apprentice, Jason Watson, has been snapped up by Roger Charlton to ride for his Beckhampton yard next year.
Watson took the racing world by storm this year and hit the headlines by taking Goodwood’s Stewards’ Cup for Hugo Palmer on Gifted Master.
The teenager also struck at Pattern level when winning a Group One for the now retired Luca Cumani with God Given.
“I am really pleased to announce that Jason Watson, this year’s champion apprentice, will be riding for Beckhampton as first jockey next year,” said Charlton.
“I have watched his progress with interest and I have been most impressed by what I have seen.
“He is a very strong, stylish, determined and he has a good understanding of race tactics.
“You only have to watch the ride he gave to God Given when she won her Group One for Luca Cumani in Italy to realise how good he is. He has ridden 110 winners this year, and won the apprentice championship by a margin of 26 winners.
“That means he rode more winners than any other apprentice since Paul Hanagan in 2002.
“That is also more than Oisin Murphy, William Buick and David Probert.”