CARLTON WATSON: This is why you spend money and buy horses every year
CARLTON Watson who has already lifted the crown as champion owner, finally achieved his personal dream of winning a Classic race.
Watson stood beaming with delight on Saturday last (May 4) in the winners’ enclosure alongside his pride and joy, a bay filly named Princess Annie, as he celebrated victory in the filly’s only Rum Fire-sponsored Jamaica Oaks.
“Wonderful, wonderful feeling. I feel like, I am on the top of the world at the moment as this is surely an accomplishment for me.
“This is what you dream of in racing, that is, to win a Classic race and this is why you spend your money and buy horses year after year,” Watson, who won his first race in 2012 with Real Vibes Machine, told The Supreme Racing Guide.
Ridden by Phillip Parchment, Princess Annie was held well off the pace, before coming with a thunderous run on the inside rails to beat Princess Ava (Linton Steadman) by 3 ¼ lengths going away in the 10-furlong (2,000m) event.
“Awesome performance. It was a really good performance from Princess Annie. She is a stayer, she is Future King’s half-sister and so it was always a possibility that she would have a good chance going over 10 furlongs and she turned up today (Saturday),” Watson said.
He added: “This victory is not for me alone, as the trainer (Wayne DaCosta) did a fantastic job in getting Princess Annie ready for the Oaks, especially after the filly was injured last year. I am particularly happy for the jockey, Phillip Parchment, who like me, was winning his first Classic race. A special word of thanks to the groom, Dudley Green, for the worked he did in getting Princess Annie fit and ready to the Oaks wicket.”
When quizzed about his thoughts for the Jamaica Derby, going 12 furlongs (2,400m), Watson replied: “Let’s hope she comes out of the race well. She will enjoy 12 furlongs more so we will be backing ourselves. Today (Saturday) it shows that my other runner Lady Blue doesn’t stay. She got some class but I think she is suspect going 10 and 12 furlongs. But as usual, I leave those decisions to the trainer”.
