From Orphan Foal to Alcoa Cup Winner, The Watch Maker Continues to Defy Odds
The Watch Maker with Trainer/Driver Jocelyn Young after his win in the ALCOA Cup. Photography by Jodie Hallows.
There was a great crowd on course for the Long Weekend Monday meeting at Pinjarra for the 2021 $10,250 ALCOA Cup, with this year’s cup going the way of the Jocelyn Young trained The Watch Maker who managed to walk away with the quinella in the race with her other runner Pontevivo gallant in defeat.
With just the six-horses assembled in the seventh on the card, the $2.30 lined up from barrier one where he obtained the trail early to settle three back on the pegs over the 2185m pace, with Young pulling of the pegs with 1200m to go to face the breeze, going on to win by 4.1m in 1:56:4. Youngs other runner Pontevivo, ran in to second placing, driven by Madeleine Young, spacing his closest rival by a further 12m.
Every win is special for Young, but the win with her beloved seven-year-old is always one that means that much more. The Watch Maker was left an orphan after being rejected by his mum at birth, but he was never rejected by Jocelyn with the then 21-year-old staying with him all day making sure he drank.
“He never learnt to drink from a bottle, his first drink was a plain bucket of water hours after the vet had stomach tubed him. Everyone had given up,”
“I knew he would make it once he had the water. I named him Rocky after Sylvester Stallone as he was a little fighter.
Since then, he has gone on to win seven races from 38 starts and has placed 11 times, taking his earnings to $44,578.
“His first win was the most satisfying. I’d always loved him and thought he was ‘good’ but was a little biased. He took a while to get his first win due to breaking down and bad manners.” She said.
Tears Of Joy NZ continued her good form this time in by making it two in a row for trainer and driver Aiden Decampo. Taking out the first on the card, the six-year-old trotter started off the 40m handicap to work her way to the lead just a few metres after they stepped, to hold off the favourite over the 2116m standing start in 2:01:7.
Marie Long NZ has really hit her stride with the four-year-old making it four wins from her last five starts after being beaten narrowly last week in the mid-week meeting at Gloucester Park. Trained and driven by Aldo Cortopassi, the $1.50 favourite found herself in the breeze after working her way three-wide around 600m after release point. Going on to win by 1.4m in 1:59:0 over the 2185m distance, it appears the tough mare has quite the future ahead of her.
There was late support in the betting with Join The Stars breaking through for her first win in the 3YO fillies preferred maiden in race three. Trained by Hayden Reeves and driven by Chris Voak, the three-year-old double Westbred filly resumed from a lengthy spell to lead all the way from barrier one in 1:59:6 over the 2185m trip.
Join The Stars taking out the third on the card. Photo Credit- Photography by Jodie Hallows.
Ashby has been knocking on the door recently but broke through for a much-deserved win in race four for trainer Ray Woodley and driver Jocelyn Young. With just over 14 months between wins, he started from barrier one and was crossed at release point to settle a few lengths off the leader, pulling off on the bend to win by 1.6m in 1:58:0 over the 2185m.
Race five saw the two-year-old’s line up over the 1684m sprint trip and it was a complete boil over with $61 shot The Good Star recording his maiden win for trainer Craig Hynem in a slick 1:55:3 and bringing up the second leg of Chris Voaks driving treble on the card.
The wins keep coming for Royal Essence NZ, with the three-year-old filly making it five in a row for trainer Nathan Turvey and reinswoman Emily Suvaljko. Leading all the way from barrier four in the ALCOA – PHRC Patrons Cup over the 2185m she managed to stave off her rivals, claiming the win by 2.7m in an impressive 1:55:1.
Don’t Bother Me None NZ resumed after a short let up, and he certainly wasn’t bothered, with the three-year-old recording a mile rate of 1:55:1 over the 2185m trip for Team Bond and Ryan Warwick. Settling in the breeze throughout, the $1.85 favourite won by a half head in the finish, bringing up his eighth career win from just 12 starts, and making it four in a row for the stable.
The maidens rounded out the meeting with Adda Navajos Gift leading all the way for trainer Brad Lynn and giving driver Chris Voak his final leg of his treble. The four-year-old double Westbred gelding came off a last start second place to break his maiden status at start 25.
Ashleigh Paikos