Trainer Doug Watson gives update on stable stars
After celebrating his biggest winner of the season so far with Golden Goal in Group 2 Maktoum Challenge Round 1 last week, seven-time UAE Champion Trainer Doug Watson has outlined plans for some of his stable stars.
Golden Goal’s win was a third for Watson in the early Carnival highlight and he now has a return to the Dubai World Cup card firmly on the agenda for the grey gelding, who was second in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile [Sponsored by Mohammed bin Rashid City] last season.
“We were so pleased to see him win that; it’s great for Dale [Brennan], his owner,” says Watson. “He had a pretty hard race and the Firebreak [Stakes, G3] comes up in three weeks, so we’re going to wait for Super Saturday with him and then aim at the Godolphin Mile again.”
Watson, who has saddled 21 winners so far this campaign, has a strong hand on Friday’s second Carnival card, sending out Canvassed and Al Tariq in the Group 3 Dubawi Stakes, while 2019 Group 2 UAE Derby winner Plus Que Parfait runs in the 2000metre Rated Conditions event, alongside Lost Eden, who was second on his local debut at Jebel Ali last month.
“Canvassed and Al Tariq both run in the Dubawi Stakes on Friday,” continues Watson. “Canvassed is doing super, real good, so we’re looking forward to having him back out.”
The Red Stables trainer also gave an update on some of his other big names, including Everfast, who made an impressive local debut over a mile in December.
“Everfast will be going to Maktoum Challenge Round 2, his owner [Frankie O’Connor] wants to go there. Prince Eiji goes to the Firebreak. We were thrilled with his first run – well, thrilled and disappointed – but seeing Kafoo come back and run such a great race helped. He [Prince Eiji] just got a bit leg-weary with it being his first start on dirt, but he’s come out of it well and we’re looking forward to the 4th February.”
