Fast-rising Watson in a hurry to stamp his mark on the Classics
Postman’s son explains to how he hopes to join Flat racing’s elite at the age of just 20
Jason Watson has come a remarkably long way in a short time given that he had no background in racing; first winner in 2017, champion apprentice in 2018, appointed first jockey to Roger Charlton and first domestic Group One in 2019. Today he continues his ascent with his first ride in a Classic when he partners Kenzai Warrior in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, and, while Roger Teal’s colt is a 25-1 outside chance, the experience should be invaluable for Watson’s attempt to join the elite few in his profession to have won a Classic when he rides the favourite, Quadrilateral, in tomorrow’s 1,000 Guineas.
Watson, 20, the son of a Brighton postman, has taken his rapid rise in his stride but it is to two former journeymen jump jockeys of the southern circuit, Ray Goldstein and Gerry Enright, that he owes his career in racing.
Aged six, Watson went to Hamsey Riding School for lessons. He was taught to ride on former racehorses which had gone on to be “happy hackers” by Goldstein, the king of Plumpton in his day. “He opened my eyes up to racing,” recalled Watson.
Aged 11, Watson used to walk his dog round the old Lewes racecourse, still a base for trainers, dreaming that he would get noticed. Ironically, it was his dog which was noticed by Enright, who stopped, ostensibly, to talk to the four-legged companion.
Watson told Enright he wanted to be a jockey, Enright replied with the advice “don’t go jumping”, one thing led to another and soon he was riding out there. “He probably only had nine horses,” he said. “But the one thing you got riding out there was ‘bottle’.”
At 13, he attended a Pony Club rally at Gary Moore’s yard in Horsham. While there, he knocked on the office door and asked Jayne Moore if he could come up for some work experience. Before long, he had left school to be “home schooled” and was riding out four days a week for Moore before joining Andrew Balding’s apprentice academy at 16.
It was in 2018 that it all snowballed for him and he posted 111 winners in the calendar year, winning the Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood on Gifted Master and riding Luca Cumani’s last Group One winner when God Given triumphed in Italy. In December that year, Charlton, whom he had never spoken to or ridden for, got in touch. “I had a few options and offers but my agent thought Mr Charlton was the best bet,” he explained.
However, Watson then broke four vertebrae in a fall at Kempton in January for another trainer. That kept him sidelined for three months.
But, after a steady start for the historic Beckhampton stable, it took off in the second half of last season when he won the Cesarewitch on Stratum for Willie Mullins and, for Charlton, the Group One Preis von Europa on Aspetar at Cologne and the Fillies’ Mile on Quadrilateral.
During the winter, he had a sevenweek stint with Danny O’brien in Melbourne, recording eight winners from 29 rides. That bodes well for return visits.
Unbeaten in two starts last year,
‘I had a few options and offers but my agent thought Mr Charlton was the best bet’
Kenzai Warrior, he believes, will outrun his odds. “He’s grown quite a lot and taken time to fill his frame. He’s been working well with Tip Two Win [2,000 Guineas runner-up to Saxon Warrior in 2018]. It would have been nice to have got him on the grass a bit more but it’s the same for everyone and there’ll be no fitness issues.”
Quadrilateral, Watson explains, has also grown during the winter and an extra month may have played to her advantage, giving her time to mature. “She’s filled out and almost looking like a colt now,” he said. “Her attitude is impeccable. She isn’t the flashiest but takes her work all in her stride.
“Winning the Fillies’ Mile was a nice way to sign off last season. She showed a great attitude to get up and win a Group One on only her third start.”
Those on the favourite for the first fillies’ Classic will hope that, like his father, Watson delivers, first class.