Dubai: Godolphin’s Watershed chases a first Group 1 victory at Belmont Park, USA on Saturday.
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin he will be ridden by Joel Rosario.
Watershed lines up in the 98th running of the Jockey Club Gold Cup over a mile and a quarter on dirt.
The Bernardini colt was sixth on his only previous outing over the distance in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 at Meydan Racecourse in March. He has run promising races over nine furlongs on his two most recent starts.
After a length victory in an allowance optional claimer at Saratoga in July, Watershed kept on to finish third in the G3 Philip H Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park on August 27.
He is drawn five in a field of six that also includes Mubtaahij and Hoppertunity, who were second and third respectively in this year’s Group 1 Dubai World Cup, and Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Effinex.
McLaughlin commented: “We feel that a mile and a quarter will suit Watershed well.
“He has done extremely well since he ran at Monmouth, and this doesn’t look the toughest US$1-million G1 race, so we are happy to give him a try.
“We think that he has a sneaky chance of winning.”
