Archie Watson

Unbeaten on the all-weather with three wins at Wolverhampton, Newcastle and Kempton coming by a combined margin of 12 1/2 lengths since the start of March, Yoshiro Kubota's Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {GB}) made his first turf start an impressive one to earn TDN Rising Star status at Hamilton on Sunday. Sent off the 11-8 favourite to transform that prowess to the grass in the valuable MansionBet Best Odds Guaranteed EBF Tangerine Trees Conditions S., the Archie Watson-trained grey raced keenly tracking the early pace dropping back to five furlongs for the first...

Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who claimed a first Group 1 win at age six last season when upsetting the G1 British Champions Sprint S. at 16-1, could make his seasonal debut in the G3 Greenlands S. at The Curragh on May 22. The Archie Watson-trained gelding also has an option in the G2 Duke Of York S. at York on May 12. Cosmo Charlton, Head Racing Manager for owner Hambleton Racing, said, "Glen Shiel is in fantastic form. Everyone is very happy with him. He's stepped up into faster...

Trainer Archie Watson's runners will not compete at racecourses for at least two weeks after a horse was found to be positive for Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) antibodies before an intended trip to France. Watson withdrew a trio of UK runners from races on Saturday and another runner from Southwell on Sunday. Horses infected with the virus are typically asymptomatic, but can display a fever, and conjunctivitis among other symptoms. "We recently had a horse undergo routine testing for transit to France as part of the new export testing protocols,"...

Not content to rest on her laurels, rider-of-the-moment Hollie Doyle claimed a career-best success when guiding last month's G1 Haydock Sprint Cup runner-up Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) to a dramatic success in Saturday's Qipco British Champions Sprint S. at Ascot. Hambleton Racing Partnership's veteran chestnut, who had previously claimed a first pattern-race triumph in The Curragh's Aug. 8 G3 Phoenix Sprint S., broke like greased lightning from the gates and was in command under a tight hold until allowed a measure of rein at halfway. Looking certain to be...

Group winner Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) will resurface in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. on British Champions Day Oct. 17. A good second in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup S. at Haydock on Saturday, the chestnut won the Aug. 9 G3 Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint S. for trainer Archie Watson and Hambleton Racing. "He was a very shrewd buy at £45,000 and took another step forward at Haydock, showing he can compete against the best in Group 1 races," said Watson. "Champions Day at Ascot will be...

Winning 2-year-old filly Ocean Star (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) has been added to the Tattersalls August Sale as a wildcard as lot 199A. A £9,000 Tattersalls Ascot yearling purchase last year, Ocean Star was runner-up twice for trainer Archie Watson before breaking her maiden by 11 lengths at Chepstow six days ago. Ocean Star is out of the unraced New Approach (Ire) mare Miss Wicklow (Ire), and Forte Dei Marmi (GB), a Grade I winner in Canada, appears under the third dam.

In ordinary times, this week would mark the revving up of the European bloodstock charabanc: standing room only, destination Deauville. As the threat of a second quarantine hangs over visitors or returnees from France to the UK like the Sword of Damocles, it's probably just as well that the traditional start to the yearling season has been delayed. This coming weekend, there will be no short shuffle between racecourse and sales ground for the Prix Jacques Le Marois and other delights ahead of a frenetic evening of activity in the...

The Archie Watson-trained Jojo Rabbit (GB) (Due Diligence) will carry the colours of the Phoenix Ladies Syndicate in Friday's G2 Norfolk S. after the group purchased the colt in a private deal. Jojo Rabbit has run twice already on the all-weather this truncated season, finishing second on debut at Lingfield on June 8 before breaking his maiden at Wolverhampton four days later. "We're thrilled to have bought a 2-year-old with such promise," said Phoenix Ladies Syndicate Principal Pamela Cordina. "His two performances really caught our attention and we're sure there...

Jam And Mam (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was prevented from running at Doncaster on Sunday after one of the members of staff travelling with the horse failed a temperature check. Strict protocols in place on racecourses since the resumption of racing in Britain in June 1 mean all individuals attending a fixture must pass a temperature check, with a threshold of 37.8C. The Archie Watson-trained 3-year-old had been due to run in division one of the Read Andrew Balding On Betway Insider H. A spokesperson for the British Horseracing Authority...

Archie Watson trainee Igotatext (Ire) (Ajaya {GB}) became the first winner for his freshman sire (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) with an all-weather victory, going just over six furlongs, at Lingfield. 2nd-Lingfield, £5,400, Mdn, 6-5, 2yo, 6f 1y (AWT), 1:13.56, st/sl. IGOTATEXT (IRE) (c, 2, Ajaya {GB}--Tifawt {GB}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) was quickly away from the outside stall and settled behind the leaders in third after the initial strides of this debut. Scrubbed along rounding the home turn, the 5-2 pick challenged wide once into the straight and kept on...

Goffs UK have unveiled the five initial entries for their Goodwood Sale, which takes place after racing during the Glorious Goodwood Festival July 31. The boutique sale is in its second year and features both racing and breeding prospects. Among the initial entries are the Archie Watson trained pair Nate The Great (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Hurcle (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). The former is a progressive staying 3-year-old who finished third last time out in the G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket while 2-year-old colt Hurcle made a winning debut...