Waiting game almost over for Watchandwait
Gosford trainer Angela Davies gently curses the irony of Waitandwatch living up to his name.
The six-year-old gelding has been plagued by health issues throughout his career which did not begin until his four-year-old season.
“He was immature so we gave him time and then when we gave him time he ended up going shin sore that many times,” Davies said.
“Waitandwatch, that’s what we’ve done for a long time over the last four years. You aptly name these horses and they return the favour.”
Once the shin soreness subsided Waitandwatch returned from a spell last November and strung together four successive wins, including his metropolitan debut at Randwick on Boxing Day.
Waitandwatch had one more run in January before a tendon injury forced another long lay-off.
“He had a tendon sheath that wouldn’t go down. It took a bit longer than we thought, as everything does with this horse. We just wait and watch,” Davies said.
He is now ready to make another comeback in a Benchmark 85 Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Davies never doubted Watchandwait’s ability before he racked up five victories, though she admitted owners Premier Park Thoroughbreds and Ronstel Thoroughbreds have had their patience tested.
“When they’ve got ability you just keep trying to keep the owners interested and that’s certainly been challenging,” Davies said.
“Some of the owners wanted to bail out on him but I kept saying he’s got ability and if you sack him and he does make it for someone else you’ll be jumping up and down.”
Davies said Watchandwait’s last campaign was a relief for all concerned.
“It just seemed to take forever but when we got him there he showed he’s a good horse,” she said.
“It’s just race to race with him. I’m just trying to keep him sound.”