Dubai: Trainer Doug Watson has attributed the success his stable is enjoying this season to a simple strategy of perfecting the basis.
The former champion handler has saddled 25 winners so far and only trails trainer Musabah Al Muhairi by one win going into this week’s racing.
“With the return to dirt at Meydan, just going back to the basics has paid off,” said Watson. “We were trying very hard for five years to win on the synthetic surface and were wearing out the horses. I think that hurt us on every other racecourse too. This time the team back home has committed itself to sticking to the basics and doing things the old way.”
Watson also noted that the momentum that the stable has found, allied to the success of stable jockey Pat Dobbs, is as a result of fresh blood being injected into his Red Stables.
“Now that he’s on horses that are able to win, his skills are really showing,” said Watson of the 23 winners that Dobbs has partnered this term.
“I’m not doing anything different this year, just keeping the right commitment to the job,” added the rider.
“I agree that the success we are enjoying is down to the new horses that we have in the stable. They help take the pressure off the older horse who don’t have to run as much.”
Dobbs also discounted a suggestion that he could compete for this season’s UAE jockey’s championship.
“It’s a long way to go and there’s a lot of strong competition out there,” he said. “I also don’t get that many rides on Arabian horses, which could make the difference, but I’m just happy to be riding as many winners as I can.”
