By Lydia Symonds www.thethoroughbredclub.co.uk • @TTC_GB

You’re a member of TTC. Why did you Archie Watson’s bright future think it was important to be part of the club? His apprenticeship took him to South Africa and America before returning to work for The TTC can give young people with an interest in the industry a fantastic insight William Haggas in Newmarket – now 27-year-old TTC member Archie Watson is looking into different aspects of it through the forward to starting a new chapter as a trainer at Saxon Gate Stables in Lambourn organised tours and visits to studs and training yards. It also allows people to see what other young people are doing ow are you feeling about and how it isn’t impossible to get where joining the ranks of the great you want to be. Hyoung trainers we have in Britain? What advice would you give to other It gives me confidence when I see the young people in the industry? likes of Hugo Palmer and Ed Walker The most important thing is get your doing so well having only just started in head down and work hard. People are the last five years, but this also hopefully always willing to help you. You’ve got to Newmarket’s July Course stages top-class racing in a beautiful setting gives owners confidence to send young think that everybody who is doing well trainers horses as well. I am just really has been in the same position as you at looking forward to getting started now. some point. I’ve always found that EXCELLENT ACTION TO ENJOY everyone is very helpful. You’ve got to be You’ve had plenty of experience in the patient as well, these things don’t AT NEWMARKET RACECOURSES industry. What first inspired you to get happen overnight. I’ve been working Don’t miss out on these fantastic offers from Newmarket racecourse, visit our involved in horseracing? with horses for the best part of 15 years website for all the details and to book your tickets. I was taken racing to Cheltenham at the and I only now feel ready to start on my Moët and Chandon July Festival, July 7-9 - Grandstand and Paddock Enclosure age of seven and saw One Man win; I own. entry including a racecard for just £15! (normally £26.50) was well and truly bitten by the bug and Discover Newmarket exclusive July Week tour, July 8 – Visits to the gallops, ever since have dreamed of being a Finally, where do you see yourself in trainers yard and behind-the-scenes tour of the racecourse only £15 trainer. We lived a couple of villages five years’ time? away from Lambourn at the time and I’d like to be training successfully and The Cambridgeshire Meeting, September 22-24 - Grandstand and Paddock when I was old enough, around 13, I giving owners a good experience. Enclosure entry including a racecard for just £10 (normally £19.50) started riding out mainly for Charlie Archie Watson is hoping to make his mark as a trainer from his Lambourn base Obviously I hope to still be loving it Dubai Future Champions Festival, October 7-8 - Grandstand and Paddock Morlock. I also rode out for other trainers myself. Enclosure entry including a racecard for just £10 (normally £19.50) like Alan King and Paul Webber, to gain was just out of university, so I decided to You learn a lot very quickly – it was a very as much experience as possible. take it then and not finish my degree. steep learning curve. I learned so much out there. I arrived Growing up near Lambourn, most of having not had an assistant’s job before, So you weren’t tempted to stay KING OF ARTS your experience at a young age was and I was only 21. But I was sent down abroad? with National Hunt yards. What set Following two seasons working for Laird, The Thoroughbred Club’s three- you on your path to the Flat? I spent six-months with Simon Callaghan year-old in training, King Of Arts, I did some work for Johnny Peter-Hoblyn in California. While I was over there I saw has now had three runs in maidens at Shadwell Stud, then through Johnny “At 21 it was the job at William Haggas’ come up and and will be targeting handicap met Tom Goff and Richard Brown at I applied for the job. I was over the moon races in due course. Blandford Bloodstock and did as many daunting to be in when I found out he wanted to see me The son of Excellent Art made his sale seasons for them as I could. It was and I was there for four seasons. first two appearances on through that I discovered my love of charge of a yard but it Wolverhampton’s Tapeta surface bloodstock and pedigrees and that’s What did you learn during your time and was last seen in action at really where I took more interest in the was my opportunity at Somerville Lodge stables? Chelmsford City in June. King Of Flat. It has been the most amazing Arts is still learning but coming and I learned a lot ” experience. I’ve had the chance to work along nicely for trainer David You’ve already worked extensively in with a huge number of quality, well-bred Simcock. the international horseracing industry, horses and it’s just been fantastic. Members are invited to attend his what drew you to the global scene? to Durban with five of the best horses William and Maureen are such an races and will have access to After school I decided to go to and I was based there for the season and extraordinary team. The way they run the owners’ badges and the facilities for Edinburgh University to read history, but we grew quite quickly to a 34-horse yard, everything is done right and no owners. Keep an eye out for our having spent more time in the Kentucky satellite yard, which I ran for Alec. corners have been cut. King Of Arts, right, next announcement on when he sales ring then in a lecture theatre, I left Of course I found it very daunting at It has taught me the importance of in action on the runs and come along and see King after a year after I was offered the job to first, but it’s the sort of opportunity that discipline and showed me how I would Newmarket gallops Of Arts in the parade ring and on be Alec Laird’s assistant in South Africa. I places like America and South Africa can like to run my yard and the right way to the track racing in our TTC colours. thought that I would have bitten afford you and you quickly become run a successful business. William does someone’s hand off to get that job if I solely responsible for a string of horses. so well with all types of horses as well.

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