Rachael Watts follows in grandfathers' footsteps at Warwick

By Jordan Gerrans

Two of Rachael Watts’ greatest days in racing occurred almost exactly a year apart from each other.

On October 8 of last year, Watts and her treasured grandfather Les Clarke lifted the Warwick Cup for 2022 and in the process become the first local stable to win the race in the last 13 years.

Cup champion Military Kings was prepared by trainer Clarke on that occasion with Watts serving as the stable forewoman.

A year on and Clarke, now 83 years of age, cannot be as hands-on as he would like with the horses, so has stepped away from training.

The family’s horses have now gone into Watts’ name as she took out her own licence earlier this year.

On October 5 of this year, Watts trained her first ever winner.

It came at just her fourth official starter.

“It was overwhelming and an enjoyable win,” Watts – who has three in work - said.

“With the time and effort you put, it was great to get the first winner.

“We have a lot of first-time owners and family in the ownership of the horse, as well. That made it a bit more special.”

It was maiden galloper Chisum who handed Watts her first race day triumph.

It was Chisum’s first start for his new trainer after previously racing under the banner of Charlotte White at Toowoomba.

The five-year-old son of Real Saga had run in the money on three straight occasions for White before the stable change and he bolted in at Gatton on Thursday of last week to breakthrough for the first time.

Despite Watts not yet training a winner in her own name in her career, the $7,000 online purchase started as a $1.55 shot over the speedy 860 metre trip.

“The pressure of him being an odds-on favourite was pretty intense,” Watts said.

“He opened up at $2.50 on the Wednesday and I thought his price would blow-out. That did not happen at all (laughs).

“Well, he did win like an odds-on favourite in the end.”

Ridden by Matthew Powell, Chisum went straight to the front from his inside draw and was never headed in the run, scoring by more than two lengths.

Alongside Chisum, reigning Warwick Cup champion Military Kings has also been transferred into Watts’ name and has had two starts for her.

Veteran trainer Clarke has metropolitan winners in Brisbane on his resume in his younger days but has not started a galloper this year.

According to Watts, her beloved grandfather is heavily involved in her training process and is still around the stables for a word of guidance or two.

“He does still help, his advice is always worth its weight in gold,” she said.

“Sometime you second guess what you are doing but when he is around, he will offer that advice.

“It is good to have that advice from him when he is around.”

Military Kings will be out to make it back-to-back Warwick Cups this Saturday afternoon at Allman Park.

With acceptances set to be taken on Thursday morning, there are 32 gallopers nominated for the $35,000 event this year.

After eight months in the paddock, Military Kings is not in the form he was last year ahead of the Cup, as he has been beaten by more than seven lengths in his two most recent runs.

“There was excuses for his last run,” Watts said.

“He is probably a run short but it is the hometown Cup, so we have to try. It is a big field for the Cup this year.”