UK JOCKEY STARTS VICTORIAN STINT

Punters scanning the fields at Mornington on Wednesday will notice the latest addition to the Victorian jockey ranks with Jason Watson down to ride for the Danny O'Brien stable.

Though mostly known as an equine educator, O'Brien has played a guiding hand in the careers of emerging jockeys from the UK.

Oisin Murphy came to O'Brien from obscurity in 2013, leaving three months later a more polished product. Murphy has been crowned champion rider in the UK and is one of the most in demand riders in the world.

Kieran Shoemark and Josh Bryan came for summer stints in subsequent years. Both those riders, along with Murphy, were apprenticed to Andrew Balding.

Now just a few months shy of his 20th birthday and already a champion apprentice of England, Watson is looking to take advantage of his time in Australia to further hone his skills.

"I'd spoken with my agent at home about where I might ride at the end of the year and Australia appealed as a good option, it seemed like the right thing to do," Watson said.

"The riders here seem to ride much tighter than at home, I'm looking forward to getting out there and testing myself against the locals.

"I'm hoping this trip can sharpen me up and make me a better rider.”

Watson has amassed 217 winners in his short career, with 37 coming for his current boss Roger Charlton.

The British-born rider won the 2018 Stewards' Cup, a significant handicap sprint at Goodwood, aboard aboard Gifted Master, for trainer Hugo Palmer. His first Group 1 win followed soon after aboard the Luca Cumani-trained God Given in Italy, the last time Cumani would win at the elite level prior to retirement. 

This year has been turbulent for Watson. Within weeks of starting as stable rider for Charlton, he sustained neck injuries in a fall and was sidelined for three months. He ended the year stylishly with two Group 1 wins, both for Charlton, including his first British Group 1 winner aboard Quadrilateral in the bet365 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket in October.

He has two rides for O'Brien at Mornington on Wednesday in the opening two maiden races - Button Express over 1000 metres and debutant Erosive over 1500 metres.

Watson was unsure about the pair's chances having only arrived in Australia ‪Monday night‬.

"I don't really know much about them to be honest, but I'm sure Danny and the team will fill me in," Watson said.

"I haven't really set any personal goals while I'm out here, what I'd say is I'm looking forward to the challenge and hope to gain some really valuable experience."

Riding enquires came be made via the Danny O’Brien stable.

Pic courtesy of @NewburyRacing