Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Watchme Win (Harry Angel ) has given his owners plenty to celebrate, with seven wins, three stakes victories and $658,100 in prizemoney. But there was a time when simply making it to the racetrack seemed unlikely.
A horrific accident as an early 2-year-old left the $160,000 yearling with a badly injured hock and an uncertain future. His large ownership group faced the prospect of never seeing their horse race, yet every one of them stayed the course.
On Saturday at Flemington, Watchme Win rewarded that patience once again, claiming the Listed Fisher Stakes for trainer Andrew Gluyas and adding another chapter to a remarkable comeback story.
However, the numbers only tell part of the story. His journey to becoming a stakes-winning racehorse was far from straightforward, with a serious accident as a young horse threatening to derail his career before it had properly begun.
A frightening accident and a long road back
When Watchme Win was an early 2-year-old, he was involved in an unfortunate accident that was no fault of his own.
A loose horse entered a trotting ring and collided heavily with Watchme Win. The injuries were so severe that the other horse had to be euthanised, while Watchme Win was left badly hurt.
“It was a bad injury to his hock, which needed a lot of time to rehab and it took away basically all of his 2-year-old season and early 3-year-old season," Gluyas explained.
“It was a bad injury to his hock (Watchme Win), which needed a lot of time to rehab and it took away basically all of his 2-year-old season and early 3-year-old season.” - Andrew Gluyas
Andrew Gluyas | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
There was no guarantee Watchme Win would return to the track, let alone develop into the stakes-winning performer he has become.
After a year of recovery, he was eventually brought back into work, and in July 2024 he made a successful debut at Murray Bridge over 1000 metres.
It was the beginning of a remarkable return, with Watchme Win going on to accumulate just under $660,000 in prizemoney and establish himself as a consistent performer at stakes level.
For Gluyas, the Fisher Stakes victory was particularly satisfying given the horse's recent efforts and the conditions finally falling into place.
“He was great, he needed the right conditions and that is what he got on Saturday, it all worked out.
“He has been racing very well , but he just hasn’t had all the things go his way, whether he has been in the inferior part of the track, or he has been left exposed which isn't ideal as he can at times want to get the job over and done with.”
“It all came together , he raced nicely, took the tight gap at about the 200 metre mark and he really charged late to score nicely.”
Watchme Win | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Patience rewarded in a big way
While the Fisher Stakes added another stakes success to Watchme Win's record, Gluyas was particularly pleased for the ownership group, who have remained committed to the horse throughout his career.
It is one thing to purchase a yearling with high hopes, but quite another to remain patient when a serious injury threatens those expectations.
Watchme Win's owners did exactly that, allowing the stable to take the time needed to rehabilitate him properly rather than rushing his return.
“It was a very rewarding win for the ownership group, they have been patient, have persevered, Group racing is tough, he did look well-placed back to Listed grade and so it proved.
“He’s a syndicated horse and there are all sorts in him and after he had his accident they all stuck together, gave him the time, allowed us to re-hab him well and he has paid them back big time.
“He’s (Watchme Win) a syndicated horse and there are all sorts in him and after he had his accident they all stuck together, gave him the time, allowed us to re-hab him well and he has paid them back big time.” - Andrew Gluyas
Watchme Win with winning connections after winning the Listed Fisher Stakes | Image courtesy of Inglis
“He had a bad accident as an early 2-year-old, he took a really nasty blow to the hock, it was really bad and there was no guarantee that he would have come back and made it as a racehorse.
“But about roughly a year later he made his debut and won and hasn’t looked back, he is a tough horse and it is such a good story."
The commitment from the ownership group has been a significant part of the story, with Gluyas recognising that their willingness to stay together and give Watchme Win the time he needed ultimately made all the difference.
“Time is a wonderful thing, good decisions were made, we have shown patience and won well over half a million with him.”
A $160,000 yearling purchase with connections
Watchme Win was purchased for $160,000 from the Noorilim Park draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, with Macdonald & Gluyas Racing securing the son of Harry Angel (Ire).
Watchme Win is by Harry Angel and out of the twice-winning Sepoy mare Watchmespin, who has left three winners, with Watchme Win her only stakes winner. Among her other successful progeny is Point and Shoot (Blue Point ), a four-time winner who has also placed in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes from the Bjorn Baker stable.
There is further depth to the family, with Watchmespin being a half-sister to winner and Group 3-placed Dream First (Dream Ahead ). The extended family also features dual Group 2 winner Majestic Music (Al Maher), G1 Thousand Guineas winner Serious Speed (Royal Academy ) and South African Group 1 winner Run Fox Run (Foxwedge).
Majestic Music | Image courtesy of Sportpix
For Gluyas, there was an early connection that helped attract him to the colt, with his breeding and background also providing plenty of appeal.
When asked what initially stood out about Watchme Win as a yearling, Gluyas explained that the connection with his breeder was an important part of the attraction.
“He was at Mill Park early on and us South Aussies have a connection. Harry Perks bred the horse and he is a very good breeder and has links with the stable, so when I liked the look of the colt and knowing the connections I was very keen to get my hands on him.”
However, securing him meant being prepared to go to the required price.
“I had to bid to get him though and paid $160,000 for him at Premier, which was a decent investment but I thought he was good buying. He was a good size, enough athleticism for me and an all-round nice horse.”
“I had to bid to get him (Watchme Win) though and paid $160,000 for him at Premier, which was a decent investment but I thought he was good buying.” - Andrew Gluyas
Watchme Win as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Gluyas and his team were also able to put together a strong ownership group, with a mixture of syndicates and long-term stable clients getting involved.
“We got a really good group together to race him, it’s a big group and they have been in him the whole time, there are a couple of syndicates in him, but then some really good clients as well that have supported the stable for a long time.
Time really is a wonderful thing
For a $160,000 yearling purchase, Watchme Win has certainly delivered, with $658,100 in prizemoney, seven career victories and three stakes wins making him an outstanding investment.
But perhaps his greatest value cannot be measured in dollars.
It is the story of a horse who suffered a serious injury, faced an uncertain future and was given every opportunity to recover by an ownership group prepared to wait.
They backed their horse, trusted the process and allowed time to do its work.
And Watchme Win has repaid them in the best possible way.
Time really is a wonderful thing.
