Quip Heads to Trainer Doug Watson in Dubai

Two high-profile former trainees of Rodolphe Brisset will make their way to Dubai to join six-time UAE champion trainer Doug Watson's Red Stables.

Multiple grade 2 winner and millionaire Quip along with recent Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale session topper Liam's Legend entered quarantine in Florida. They are expected in Meydan's quarantine facility mid-December to point toward the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

"When we saw Quip was available to buy, we were pretty excited about that," Watson said. "He's obviously a talented and accomplished horse, but he looked like he could have used a break in his last race at Churchill and if the break helped him, he'll be all the better for over here in Dubai. The one thing is that I know he can probably get into the Godolphin Mile on rating, but we'll also obviously look at the Dubai World Cup with a horse like him because he's won at nine furlongs."

Both the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) and the Godolphin Mile Sponsored by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City-District One (G2) are scheduled for March 28 at Meydan.

A son of Distorted Humor , Quip was previously owned by breeder WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and SF Racing. The bay 4-year-old colt has won four of 11 lifetime starts, including two grade 2 affairs in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs and the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at Oaklawn Park. Quip earned $1,056,951 and was also second in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn and the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. He finished off the board in his last start, the Sept. 28 Lukas Classic Stakes (G3) at Churchill.

Quip was supplemented into the Horses of Racing Age portion of the Keeneland November sale but was subsequently scratched. He was privately purchased by HH Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, who also has group 3 winner and fellow American import Kimbear with Watson.

"He had time off at WinStar and just arrived into quarantine in Ocala with Dave Scanlon," Watson said of Quip. "He just started jogging before heading there and will begin galloping in Ocala and come here. I think we'll look at one or two spots for him to return—either the Firebreak (G3) over a mile (Feb. 13) or the Al Maktoum Challenge Round (G2) over 1,900 meters (Feb. 6). I think he should be ready to go in one of those and those are realistic goals. He's joined by Liam's Legend and Moshaher."

Brisset also conditioned Liam's Legend, who made himself known with a three-length maiden score Oct. 26 going 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland. The gray 2-year-old colt by Liam's Map  was consigned by Indian Creek at the Keeneland November sale and sold Nov. 12 for $325,000 to Saudi Arabian owner Khalid Mishref. The price was the highest of the seventh session and topped the racing stock portion of the sale.

Liam's Legend was previously owned by Niall Brennan, Michael Ryan, and Mike Anderson Racing. He returned to the work tab two days prior to his sale with a half-mile drill in :48 flat on the Keeneland dirt.

"For me, the one thing I really liked about Liam's Legend is he hit the front and was going away and that was a nine-furlong race," Watson said. "I know it was on a sloppy track, but I believe he probably would have won like that either way and it shows that he wants to stay the trip, which is key here when the distances get longer in races like the UAE Derby (G2).

"We will try to make the UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3) with him and I'm sure his owner will probably want to run in the new Saudi race for 3-year-olds before the UAE Derby. You don't win at Keeneland in a 2-year-old maiden if you're not pretty good, so I'm very happy to have him."

Moshaher was a promising 3-year-old for Watson and H and B last season, airing on debut in January before finishing sixth in the UAE Two Thousand Guineas Sponsored by Al Naboodah AshokLeyland Partnership and 10th in the listed Al Bastakiya Sponsored by Emirates.com. Sent to the U.S., the son of Goldencents  made two unplaced starts for Watson's old boss, Kiaran McLaughlin. Moshaher will return to Dubai as a gelding.

"When we get him here, we'll give him a little break and I don't want to do much with him at all," Watson said. "Luckily the handicaps will likely be kind to him and he was gelded while he was over there, which should help. He was really fractious in the gate and kind of lost his way after that first big win. He's talented and I hope to have him going by February and be a horse for the future."