Doug Watson is the charismatic American trainer who first came to Dubai in the early nineties. Since then, it has been a second home for this trainer with an exhaustive international foot print. His owners include some of the top business and political leaders in the world and his horses are prime bloodstock. Watson recently celebrated his milestone of reaching 500 career winners with a treble at Meydan Racecourse. He has had a robust season so far, already climbing to the top of the trainers’ leaderboard with an impressive AED6,684,316 in prize money stacked under his belt . The animated trainer talks passionately about Kimbear, owned by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, (the youngest son of Ajman Ruler HH Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi) in an exclusive interview with SW.

 

Q – What are your plans for Kimbear for the rest of the season, especially the Dubai World Cup 2018?

 

A – Kimbear is aimed at the Gr.2 Godolphin Mile* in the Dubai World Cup 2018. We plan to race him on Super Saturday night in the Burj Nahar which is prep for the Godolphin Mile. We hope to get invited thereafter to the Godolphin Mile.

 

He would have earned a break after the UAE season end. Kimbear will ultimately continue racing in the next (UAE) season as well.

 

Q – Looking back at his last race this season, how did you feel about Kimbear coming second to Ravens Corner?

 

A – Kimbear is in great form. We were a bit disappointed with his last two runs. We gave away 12 pounds in the last handicap, which worked to the advantage Ravens Corner. He will carry level weights in the next two starts, which should help his chances.

 

Q – How would you portray Kimbear’s owner Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi?

 

A – I am fortunate to have some great owners. Sheikh Nuaimi is very engaging and personable as well as a good listener, with a very keen interest in horses. Although he has recently started developing his team of racehorses, he has acquired high-quality performers such as Rayya, Kimbear and last year’s Godolphin Mile winner Second Summer.

 

Q – What is Kimbear’s personality like?

 

A – He is very much his own horse. He does not like to be petted and prefers his own space. But he loves his feed and thoroughly enjoys racing. He is a very sound young horse. I am looking forward to working with him over the (coming) years.

 

Q – You have been in Dubai for over two decades. How has racing grown in that period? How do you see it growing further in the next decade?

 

A – I came to Dubai in 1993 and the first Dubai World Cup was held in 1996. That’s when Cigar came over. Since then the Dubai Racing Carnival and The Dubai World Cup offer the most international racing in the world. We have followers from around the world and participants from every major racing jurisdiction including Korea, Japan, France Australia, New Zealand and South America.

 

It’s a very short but fun season as the carnival is packed into a small window of three months. Although there are new formats of racing launched elsewhere. The Dubai World Cup works much better as its an invitational. Furthermore, with a diverse race card, many different age groups, surface types and distances allow for specialist international horses to race in Dubai on World Cup night. I look forward to seeing it improve year-on-year.

 

Q – And finally what would you consider the racing highlight of your career?

 

A- The biggest racing moment so far has been my treble win in the Godolphin Mile (2016) with One Man Band (Pivotal); Faulkner (Pivotal); Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy).

 

 

*Godolphin Mile: 1600m, D, US$ 1 million, SH 3yo: 55 kg - NH 4yo: 57 kg. Allowance fillies & mares 2kg