Tag: doug watson

Like Father, Like Son at Meydan

The late Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) turned in arguably the most impressive effort in a G1 Dubai World Cup by a horse not named Dubai Millennium (GB), dropping back to last after being roughed up at the break, rallying wide on the turn and galloping past none other than Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) to win the 2017 renewal in jaw-dropping fashion. Taking Names became the first starter in Dubai for his GI Breeders' Cup Classic-winning stallion in Thursday's second race at Meydan, and while much more straight-forward, was similarly impressive in dotting up by an impressive 8 1/4 lengths on debut. He becomes the first 'TDN Rising Star' for Arrogate and his eighth winner overall

Ridden forward from gate four by Pat Dobbs, the Sheikh Obaid colourbearer argued the pace inside of Summer Is Tomorrow (Summer Front) for the opening three furlongs and held that spot at the fence as the field rounded the turn. Allowed to stride into the lead with 500 metres to race, Taking Names kicked in upper stretch, was a touch tardy switching his leads and scampered home under hands and heels riding to score by daylight.

“He was very good out of the gates,” Dobbs told Tom Stanley before weighing out. “He's bred to stay and he's got to the line very good. Very pleased. My lad's pretty fit. Shane Ryan has done a great job with him in the gates. Every time he goes in, he's getting better and he's getting more mature. This lad was very professional tonight and I'm delighted the way he's going.”

A $100,000 Keeneland September yearling acquisition, Taking Names was hammered down for $150,000 at this year's OBS June Sale after breezing a quarter-mile in :21 3/5.  A half-brother to Mani Bhavan (Storm Boot), GISW, $267,000; Hear the Ghost (Ghostzapper), GSW, $382,762; and Closing Bell (Tapit), SW & GISP-US, $560,582, Taking Names is out of a winning half-sister to MSW/MGSP Turkappeal (Turkoman), the dam of GSW Pink Champagne (Awesome Again). Third dam Silken Doll, a half-sister to GISW turfer Turk Passer (Turkoman), was responsible for Sovereign Award-winning 2-year-old filly Silken Doll (Storm Cat), whose champion son Speightstown (Gone West) has become an influential sire at WinStar Farm. Silken Cat was also the dam of the late MGSW/GISP Irap (Tiznow) and of Cableknit (Unbridled's Song), dam of G1 Maktoum Challenge R3 winner Capezzano (Bernardini).

Rehear is the dam of a yearling Honor Code Filly, a weanling colt by West Coast and was most recently bred to The Factor.

2nd-Meydan, AED82,500, Maiden, 2yo, 1200m, 1:12.32, ft.
TAKING NAMES, 128, c, 2, by Arrogate
1st Dam: Rehear, by Coronado's Quest
2nd Dam: Chief Appeal, by Valid Appeal
3rd Dam: Silken Doll, by Chieftain
Sales history: $100,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $150,000 2yo '21 OBSJUN. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, AED49,500. Click for the Emirates Racing chart and the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-W S Farish & Lazy F Ranch (KY); T-Doug Watson.

 

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Classic-Placed Everfast Sold To Race In Dubai

Everfast, who finished second to War of Will in the 2019 Preakness Stakes, has been sold to continue his racing career in Dubai, Michael Adolphson of Dubai Racing Club reported on Aug. 19.

The 5-year-old Take Charge Indy gelding joined the yard of trainer Doug Watson for owner Kildare Stud.

Everfast previously raced for Calumet Farm, trained by Dale Romans and Jack Sisterson, after the operation purchased the horse as a short yearling for $47,000 at the 2017 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.

He started in the Romans barn, winning on debut as a 2-year-old at Ellis Park. At three, he finished second to Harvey Wallbanger in the G2 Holy Bull Stakes at odds of 128-1, then finished out of the money in the G1 Florida Derby and G3 Pat Day Mile Stakes.

That brief spike in form had become rather distant when he was announced as a candidate for that year's Preakness Stakes, and the betting public was just as confounded, sending him off with the field's second-longest odds at 29-1. Under jockey Joel Rosario, Everfast closed from the back of the field to finish 1 1/4 lengths behind War of Will.

That effort led to Everfast becoming a regular in the biggest 3-year-old races of the summer, where he finished off the board in the Belmont Stakes, Haskell Invitational Stakes, and Travers Stakes.

Everfast was moved to the Sisterson barn for his 4-year-old season, which started with runner-up efforts in an Oaklawn Park allowance and the Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs, before he was moved to the turf and finished ninth in the G1 Maker's Mark Stakes, which was won by familiar rival War of Will.

The horse returned to the dirt and scaled back to one turn after the Maker's Mark, and won a seven-furlong Saratoga allowance in his comeback start. He was then returned to stakes competition, where he ran off the board in the G1 Forego Stakes, G3 Ack Ack Stakes, and black type Lafayette Stakes. His most recent starts came in December 2020, when he finished third in a pair of allowance optional claiming races at Gulfstream Park.

Frankie O'Connor's Kildare Stud is based in central Kentucky, but the owner regularly sends runners to Watson in the U.A.E.

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Watson Wins Trainers’ Championship

Doug Watson earned his seventh UAE trainers' championship at Al Ain Racecourse on Friday evening, claiming the victory with 40 wins-one more than three-time champion Ernst Oertel, despite his yard being compromised by a COVID outbreak early in the season. Watson now stands alone as the trainer to have won the most UAE training titles; he was previously tied with Satish Seemar on six.

“We have such a great team at home, both the owners and the staff,” Watson said. “They have been fantastic and everyone works seven days a week and we went through the COVID situation and thankfully everyone's okay from that and things have gone well [since]. It was tough right down to the wire.”

Highlights for Watson's Red Stables for the season included two wins on Super Saturday: Midnight Sands (Speightstown) in the G3 Burj Nahaar and Canvassed (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G3 Mahaab Al Shimaal.

“I just really want to thank our team and especially Dion McFadden and all of the people who helped saddle our horses when we couldn't. We missed two weeks with COVID and then weren't able to attend the races the third week when our horses could finally run. None of us could go, but we got a few wins there and one day we even had 19 horses running up the [Jebel Ali Racecourse] hill. It was a great team effort.”

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Dubai World Cup Card Taking Shape

Fields for a trio of Thoroughbred Group 2s and one Purebred Arabian Group 1 on the Dubai World Cup card were drawn on Monday with the five Thoroughbred Group 1s to be finalised during Wednesday's draw ceremony.

The $750,000 UAE Derby Sponsored By Emirates NBD attracted 14 sophomores, and, as an added bonus carries 170 (100-40-20-10) points toward the GI Kentucky Derby on May 1. Saudi Derby conqueror Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) leaves from the widest stall in 14. Rated a field-topping 112, the Hideyuki Mori trainee-one of three from Japan–will knock heads with his Derby second and third New Treasure (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) for the Gosdens and Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby.

The undefeated Flatter colt Panadol (109), a winner of the Listed Al Bastakiya over Doug Watson's Speight'spercomete (Speightstown) and MSW El Patriota (Uru) (Ecologo {Arg}) on Mar. 6 for Salem bin Ghadayer also takes part. Watson's other runner is the impressive G3 UAE Oaks victress Mnasek (Empire Maker), runner-up to Appleby/Godolphin's Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas after a poor beginning. America is also represented, as Doug O'Neill's GIII Bob Hope S. third Ambivalent (Constitution) will leave from gate eight.

In the G2 Godolphin Mile Sponsored By Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum City-District One, 15 horses, led by listed winner and Group-3 placed Urban Icon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}), have signed on. The first four finishers of the Mar. 6 G3 Burj Nahaar also lock horns once again: Midnight Sands (Speightstown), Group 3 winner Chiefdom (The Factor), Tuz (Oxbow) and Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Satish Seemar charges Roman Rosso (Arg) (Roman Ruler)–a winner at the highest level in his native land and third in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3-and Al Maktoum Challenge R3 fifth Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) have also stood their ground.

GI Cigar Mile H. runner-up Snapper Sinclair (City Zip) will take part for Steve Asmussen, as will GII Suburban S. third Parsimony (Dominus) for Doug O'Neill and dual graded-placed Avant Garde (Tonalist) from the Gustavo Delgado barn.

The 3200-metre $750,000 G2 Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors is anchored by Godolphin's group-placed Secret Advisor (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) from the Charlie Appleby barn. One of four in the race representing the royal blue, he is joined by G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy one-two Volcanic Sky (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}) and Global Heat (Ire) (Toronado {Ire}), both from Saeed bin Suroor.

Last year's G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) aims to knock the rust off from gate 10 for Mark Johnston, while dual Italian group winner Walderbe (Ger) (Maxios {GB}) drew one to the inside for trainer Ralf Rohne. Globetrotting veteran Red Verdon (Lemon Drop Kid) makes his first journey to the desert for Ed Dunlop and leaves from the farthest gate in 11. Team Valor tasted G1 Dubai World Cup glory with Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), and they team up with Gary Barber and trainer Andrew Balding with G2 Doncaster Cup hero Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}).

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