Watershed Up For Round Three

Time/Date - 18.55 hrs local time/Saturday, March 5, 2016
Racecourse/Country - Meydan/UAE
Surface/Distance - Dirt/1m 2f

Watershed steps up to a mile and a quarter for the first time in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round Three Sponsored By Emirates, the 10-furlong dirt highlight of Super Saturday at Meydan, UAE, on Saturday, March 5.

The four-year-old Bernardini colt, representing American trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, has only made five appearances, all on dirt, and stayed on strongly to take third in the mile G3 Firebreak Stakes Sponsored by EGA at Meydan on February 4.

He finished fifth of seven behind Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Runhappy in the G1 Malibu Stakes over seven furlongs at Santa Anita, USA, on December 26 and was fourth to the same horse over the same distance in the G1 NYRA.com King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga in August.

Watershed was successful on both his other starts, a cosy win in a Keeneland allowance race over the same distance in October and an easy debut victory at six furlongs in a Saratoga maiden in early August.

Kiaran McLaughlin said: "Watershed came out of the Firebreak Stakes in great order and is doing very well.

"We are stretching him again out to a mile and a quarter, so he will be tackling two turns for the first time.

"We feel that the way he finished in the Firebreak, together with his conformation and breeding, suggest that he wants further.

"It's a big step up to a Group One and he's coming up against some very good strong horses but we feel that he belongs in the race.

"We feel like he is sitting on a big run."

Watershed, drawn three and ridden by James Doyle for a second time, takes on 11 rivals including American challenger Keen Ice, who beat American Pharoah in the G1 Travers Stakes last year, and G2 UAE Derby scorer Mubtaahij.