A Profile of Ghost Serge Trained by Archie Watson

Trainers come and go. Rookie trainers can find they have a limited shelf life if backed by others money. It must be a hard-fought existence when your success or failings rest on each horse achieving something to keep the devil off your back. 

One thing every newbie trainer needs is a touch of luck or a bloody good horse to prove they know their job. 

Archie Watson must have thanked his lucky stars that he had not one, two, three but more talents at Saxon Gate, Upper Lambourn, West Berkshire. 

Looking at today's racing I see Ghost Serge takes part at Lingfield (1:30). 

This grey son of Zebedee was always held in some regard by Watson, receiving a number of significant entries through his two-year-old season. An impressive 7-length winner on debut then following up under a penalty at Carlisle. Ghost Serge did little wrong when heading to France when beaten in the final strides at Listed class. In some respects, he disappointed thereafter. The latest performance when fourth at Kempton saw him struggle to give weight to a couple of horses with huge reputations noted on Group Horse (Daily) with Walk In The Sun (Jeremy Noseda) and First Contact (Charlie Appleby) cruising clear of the field by 8-lengths. 

Ghost Serge has been somewhat hindered by the win penalty and finds himself racing for a prize of £3,752.02. 

Watson entered a number of juveniles last season and they have continued to show ample ability. 

Corinthia Knight  - OR 105
So Hi Society  - OR 98
Yabass - OR 84

Other entrants:

Shimmy Shoes
We Are The World 
Amazing Alice
Herecomesthesun

Group Entries in Action from Two to Three

So, what are Group entries all about? Even at this stage of the season, it is interesting to see how pattern entries for two-year-old horses (now three) fare when they are racing. 

I will simply use this as an example. However, remember, the strength Group Horse Daily is with two-year-old racing. We identify the best unraced and lightly raced juveniles in training. These horses, below, were identified and look at the class illustrated by high official ratings.  

2:05 Newcastle - 

Governor's Choice is trained by Karl Burke in the ownership of I McInnes, Dr M Glaze & E Burke. This roan gelding, a son of Intikhab, has achieve two wins and a capable horse. With an official rating of 84, this three-year-old has to withstand a win penalty. 

3:45 Newcastle - 

An all-weather Championship Fast-Track Qualifier with prize money worth £18,675. 

A real talent from the start of the two-year-old campaign. Corinthia Knight, trained by Archie Watson, has won four times from ten starts achieving £63,000 in total earnings. Ontoawinner horse racing syndicate have a speedster with an official rating of 105.

Lake Volta is another horse which Mark Johnston gave a couple of significant entries. A winner on two starts, including a Group 3 place at Kempton back in September. Rated 99, with an all-time high of 100, this bay gelding drops to the minimum trip for the first time. 

One of the best two-year-olds last season was To Wafij for Roger Varian. It was far from a vintage season with the stable not in the best of health for some time. This well entered son of Kodiac won on debut at Yarmouth and although the only victory, this colt has been a model of consistency including a fine place effort in the Molecombe Stakes (Group 3). An out and out sprinter, this horse has an official rating of 103.  

Just a few examples of the horses Group Horse details. Remember, the majority of these horses were entered before racing at two.