BY OBSERVER RACING WRITER

CARLTON ‘Cal’ Watson is on the cusp of being crowned champion owner after his horses performed in some cases beyond expectations.

Starting the Boxing Day meet over $500,000 behind leader and main rival WB Racing, the white with burgundy dots colours of Watson passed the winning post in first position four times.

The almost unbelievable change of fortune for Watson started in the third race when the mare Sweet Trail (D Cardenas) easily won the $1.25 million Harry Jackson Memorial Cup. To add to his good fortune, his Mr Luval finished third, and Royal Vibes fourth.

The downpour of winners continued in the fifth when Miss Juanita easily disposed of her two-year-old rivals. Then it was the turn of Sparkle Haven in the seventh and then this extraordinary day for Watson culminated with the victory by Jack De Charmer in the eighth race.

While it is clear that Watson is now in the lead for being crowned champion owner, the exact amount of his lead will probably be known sometime today.

Suffice it to say in the Harry Jackson alone, Watson was able to erase the lead established by WB Racing and move ahead. The other three victories were the icing on the owners’ cake.

WB Racing was winless on the day.