Old timer’s philosophy is ‘gold’!

Sunraysia harness racing trainer Ian Watson makes no secret that his successful path into the sport was the result of some valued advice he received a long time ago.

“He was one of those old timers who always had some wise words and he told me his philosophy was not to train anything that can’t win a race….and don’t drive anything that can’t win,” Ian said.

“I’ve tried to stick to that as much as possible and certainly think the words ring true,” he said.

Watson, based at South Merbein on the outskirts of Mildura, has a strike rate this season of four wins from just eight starters, and throughout his career has managed an impressive 25 percent win-return, with over $1 million in stakes.

Currently preparing a team of just two, Watson says a small stable suits best, because “if I have too many I start cutting corners”.

Making the 400km trek south to Bendigo last Saturday night Watson landed a surprise win with 20/1 shot Flojos Gold (Mach Three-Jasper Jo) in the $10,000 Strath Village IGA Pace.

“It was a big trip for my wife Alison and me, because we left early for the meeting and got home at about 4am Sunday,” Watson said.

Ian and Alison Watson with Flojos Gold

Local reinswoman Ellen Tormey, who has now driven the mare to four wins in its last six starts, timed her run to perfection.

The leaders ran a first split of 25.9 and the early burn in the short race certainly suited Flojos Gold who sat back biding her time. The next quarter in 31.7 saw the tempo calm, but when Tormey made her move, the pace clicked up with final splits of 27.9 and 28.8.

The Mildura mare came home with a wet sail to down her more fancied rivals in Rock Classic and Beach Surge, in a career best 1.54, taking her record to 21 wins, 8 placings from 44 starts for $184,000.

“My instructions to Ellen were simple – I just told her that if they went mad early, we’d be running home. Despite being wide on the home corner I thought we’d run a place, but she really accelerated,” Watson said.

It wasn’t the first time Flojos Gold had upset the apple cart – she did it in July 2015, when Luke Watson, a son of the trainer, steered her to victory in the Vicbred 2yo Group One Fillies’ Final at Melton, at the juicy odds of 50/1.

Watson said he had expected the mare to do well at Bendigo after her brilliant work in the week leading up to that assignment.

“She doesn’t usually set the world on fire in trackwork, but I told the owners that it was the best she had felt for ages. I actually had to take hold of her a few times,” he said.

“When the Mildura race didn’t stand up we had to race her somewhere and it all turned out nicely at Bendigo.”

Purchased at the Melbourne sales for $15,000, Flojos Gold showed talent from the word go, winning at her first two attempts. Later in her career she went from a C1 to fast class grade in 11 starts.

But Watson revealed it isn’t all plain sailing with Flojo, because the mare “hasn’t a pleasant attitude toward humans.”

“As a 2yo she would try to kick you out of the cart more often than not—she has since matured a little and only now tries it twice a week!” Watson laughed.

“I probably spend too much time with her, sometimes two hours a day, but I guess she’s worth it.”

After being based in Broken Hill for many years, the Watson family moved to Mildura in late 1992 and Ian has since carved out a fine career with horses such as Thoughtful Fella, Alzona, Safely, George Edward, Bee Cees Bid and Anipatnight to name a few.

Sons Luke, of Merbein, and Mark, of Kyabram, are also astute horsemen.

While Watson agreed a few Melbourne trips were probably ahead for his star mare, nothing had been mapped out yet.

“Luke can’t always come on trips with us now as he has a big team in work, so I’ll have to convince Alison,” Watson said.

“We were a few kilometres from home last Sunday morning and I told her she could close her eyes now, but she wouldn’t do it because she said I’d tell everyone she went to sleep on me!”

To watch the video click on this link.

Terry Gange

NewsAlert PR Mildura