19 year old Jason Watson is the latest product from the Andrew Balding yard to become champion apprentice, following the likes of some esteemed jockeys like Oisin Murphy and William Buick.
Watson's biggest winner of the season came at Glorious Goodwood winning one of the biggest handicaps in racing, the Stewards’ Cup aboard Gifted Master, for trainer Hugo Palmer
This teenage jockey is a person full of confidence and has now lost his claim meaning it should be harder to find rides but this has been the opposite for him and has seemed to keep a consistent run of rides going all season.
He is definitely a jockey going places and we think he really can become a future flat champion jockey if he keeps progressing and picking up frequent rides in the next few years.
The level he is performing at week in week out and the experience he is taking in from top level professionals that have been in the game for numerous years is invaluable and something that hold him in good stead for the future.
Watson at only the age of 19 has done more than most the top jockeys ever did at his age and with some jockeys not even doing what he has done in his short career.
(Credit At The Races) The jockey said: “I’m delighted to follow in the footsteps of past apprentices that have been produced from here and it is great to now be a part of that line.”
Watson has enjoyed plenty of success at Brighton this season, a track he refers to as “home”.He added: “I really enjoy riding at my home course. I rode my first treble there, my mum and dad religiously go there every meeting, and so it really does feel like going home which is great!”