‘Massive’ win for Watson’s new filly
GLOBETROTTING plans moved a step nearer for Absolute Blast after she provided trainer Archie Watson with the biggest winner of his career in the Betfred Mobile Magnolia Stakes at Kempton.
After finishing third on her debut for the Lambourn handler in the Winter Derby at Lingfield last month, the five-year-old built on that display when she forged through a tight gap up the inside to claim the Listed contest by a neck.
Watson said: “If you had said seven months ago when we had our first runner that I would have a Listed winner on the first day of the turf season I would have told you you were mad.
“It’s massive for us and my team, who work so hard.
“We brought the filly without black type and she is now a Listed winner and Group Three placed in two starts. I’ve no doubt she can go on from here.
“All being well, we will go to the Easter Classic on Good Friday. There is also the Princess Elizabeth at Epsom and a couple of races in Ireland.
“But the way she has been running on these tight all-weather tracks over the winter, if she takes to the turf in the same way I would like to think she could be a filly for North America in the autumn.”
Big Country looks to have a bright future on the Flat, but trainer Mick Appleby hopes he could even become his first Cheltenham Festival runner following an impressive success in the Betfred-sponsored Rosebery Handicap.
The four-year-old (4-1 favourite) made it two wins from as many starts since joining the Oakham handler after cruising home by a length and a half to complete a double for Appleby and second leg of a treble for rider Silvestre de Sousa.
He said: “I think he will make a cracking hurdler. He has already been schooling. He could be my first Cheltenham Festival horse next year but we will see how far we can get on the Flat first.
“We will go on the turf with him now. I will probably stick him in the Ebor. He has got some engine. He would be up there with the best I’ve had, like Danzeno. He is the best middle-distance horse I’ve had.”