The decision to geld Watson at the end of last year has already been vindicated, and jockey Tim Clark sees no reason the Tulloch Lodge galloper can’t continue on his winning way at Randwick.
Placed just once from three starts as a juvenile colt, the four-year-old was cut prior to resuming in January and immediately put two wins on the board at Kembla Grange and Canterbury.
Stepped straight to Group company, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained charge wasn’t disgraced, finishing fourth to Tempted in the Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m).
He heads to Saturday’s Chandon Handicap (1200m) at Randwick off the back of a midweek win over Clear Proof, who franked the form with a victory at Canterbury on Wednesday, and Clark expects Watson to acquit himself well despite a tricky draw in 12.
“His record as a gelding is really good,” Clark said.
“It was a good win first-up with improvement to come. He’s taking that improvement into the weekend and he’s worked very well during the week.
“He’ll make his presence felt.
“I also feel the drier the track gets, the better for him.”
While Saturday’s assignment is at benchmark level, Clark believes Watson has the potential to work his way through to another shot at better grade.
He finished four lengths from Tempted in the Eskimo Prince Stakes, and less than three from runner-up Napoleonic, who has since placed in a Doomben 10,000 and will start one of the fancied runners in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
“He ran really well in that race, and a hot race it was,” Clark said.
“With where his rating is at, he can go through the ratings system, get good prizemoney, and if and when the time is right, Gai and Adrian can step him back into a harder race.”
