Doug Watson Stable Tour

It has been a quiet couple of weeks for Doug Watson, relatively speaking, but he landed the feature race on the opening night of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, and he will be hoping it is a case of getting his team to peak for all the main races.

Here, he speaks to Stephen Molyneux of attheraces.com through his main hopes for the rest of the Carnival.

AL TARIQ

“Glad we didn’t run him in the Garhoud Sprint as with all the rain the track was bad and he’d already had a run anyway at Jebel Ali. He was only 80% fit when he won that so he will come forward a lot and we are looking forward to the Dubawi Stakes this week.”

AQUAMAN

“He will probably run on the turf next week on the domestic card on Sunday. He is rated 94 so hopefully we can bump that up a bit and get in the Carnival. Looks a real nice horse although did arrive over a little bit late with one or two others also owned by Sheikh Obaid.”

CANVASSED

“Has trained very well into the Dubawi Stakes and we are looking forward to have a three-race campaign with him. He’s had sore shins in the past, so we don’t need to push him any harder than that. Proved himself the best local sprinter when third in the Golden Shaheen last year and we are really looking forward to getting him going although he may just need the run this Friday.”

EKHTIYAAR

“Wasn’t easy for him last season but I thought his reappearance last week was a step back in the right direction. He has come out of the race well after what was essentially a year off and a step back up to 6f will serve him well next time.”

EVERFAST

“We are really looking forward to getting him out again and his next start will probably come in the second round of the Maktoum Challenge. There was no point running him in the first round against all those good milers. He won very well on his debut for and has done everything right since - we really like him.”

GOLDEN GOAL  

“Meant a lot for us to win that race last week, and for his owner Dale Brennan who has had to be patient with him at times. He had a hard race though and as a result we will probably skip the Firebreak and just go straight to the Burj Nahaar on Super Saturday and then obviously onto the Godolphin Mile where he finished second last year.”

KHUZAAM

“Bled pretty badly at Meydan last time and has only just had his first work back this week. We have nothing planned just yet, we will just see how the next couple of weeks go, but could end up back at Jebel Ali for something like the Jebel Ali Sprint.”

MIDNIGHT SANDS

“Has obviously got a problem or two this season, he had breathing issues in the US and they may have resurfaced so we will have a look at that. It may well be the case that he is done for the season”

MNASEK

“Ran well enough on the grass last week in the Cape Verdi for us to give it another go where she will likely meet the same fillies in the Balanchine. We might try and ride her differently as she didn’t seem to appreciate having cover last time.”

MOTAFAAWIT

“We will be working back from the Al Quoz, a race he was probably a bit unlucky in last season as the draw left us in no man’s land. He again shaped very well on his reappearance last week and we can’t wait to step him back up to 6f next time. He will come on a ton for that run.”

MUBAKKER

“Nice winner last time and is rated 108 but we have nothing special planned for him just yet. He will probably run in a 7f rated conditions race at the Carnival and then we can see where we are at with him.”

PLUS QUE PARFAIT

“Runs this week and we hopefully have him back. He hasn’t won in a while and had a fairly decent quarter crack on his reappearance so that run can easily be excused. That has grown out nicely now and his work has been good.”

PRINCE EIJI

“Had a very hard race when second to Kafoo but I was pleased to see that one come out and run such a good race last week. We will probably look at the Firebreak with him next.”