Latest news with #BasherWattsRacing
Daily Mirror
42 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Basher Watts turns down massive £2.2m offer for star horse ahead of Classic
A social media influencer who has become obsessed with horse racing has turned down a massive offer for one of his horses. Basher Watts created his own TikTok channel two years ago to document his days out on the racecourse before launching his own syndicate, made up mostly of first-time racehorse owners. Basher Watts Racing has nine horses in training, the best of which Shes Perfect gave them an unforgettable yet frustrating day out when she was controversially demoted to second in the French 1,000 Guineas after finishing first past the post at Paris-Longchamp. After an unsuccessful appeal against the stewards' decision, Shes Perfect has been lined up for a second Classic bid by trainer Charlie Fellowes in the £827,000 French Oaks (Prix de Diane) at Chantilly on Sunday in the hope she can continue one of the underdog stories of 2025. The filly was originally bought privately for £42,000 and since winning on debut at Haydock last August, has finished second in the Group 3 race and runner-up, on a demotion, in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. But Watts revealed on Thursday that an offer had been received on behalf of connections in Japan for a life-changing sum. Watts told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, "I have nothing to hide. It was £2.2 million. For me that's nowhere near enough money. You are basically asking someone to pay you to take your dream away from you. "You get involved in horse racing with a dream of owning a horse like her. There are a lot of things in life which mean more than money. There will come a time in her racing career when the right step is for her to go to breeding but that's definitely not now. "There's 38 owners involved in Shes Perfect and 37 of them instantly voted she's not for sale. We're all in on the dream and hopefully there is another chapter in the fairytale on Sunday." Shes Perfect is set to face 11 opponents including Mandanaba for the same Aga Khan connections awarded victory in the French Guineas. Watts added: "We go there with a lot of pressure and a lot of expectation. In both of her runs in France there was no expectation. There was every chance she wasn't going to be good enough and then we went back to the Pouliches. Never in our wildest dreams did we think we'd have a runner. "We won it. It doesn't say that in the racecard but we know it. We won the Guineas, which is incredible to say and we go back 5-2 favourite and there is a whole heap of pressure on which gives it a different feel. "The whole thing is a fairytale and it still doesn't feel real. She was the second horse I ever bought. It still hasn't sunk what she is doing and what we're doing. I have everything crossed and I pray she can win again in France."
Glasgow Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Basher Watts determined to give Fellowes his first ‘official' Group One
Having crossed the line a nose in front of the French favourite Zarigana, the stewards deemed Shes Perfect drifted off a true line into Exactly, who in turn impeded Zarigana. With a line finally drawn under the race, Watts and trainer Charlie Fellowes now have to decide whether to take on the best fillies around over a mile at Royal Ascot or step up in trip and return to France for the Prix de Diane, the French Oaks. 'It's definitely 50-50 between Ascot for the Coronation and the French Oaks,' said Watts, who has developed a strong following on TikTok and Instagram and set up Basher Watts Racing on the back of his social media success and interactions with followers. Relive the dramatic moment the @BasherWatts team went from ecstasy to agony as Shes Perfect is dramatically stripped of a Classic victory in Paris… — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 21, 2025 'When Kieran (Shoemark) came back in after 'winning' the Guineas, he said stick at a mile. Although we were demoted, we won one of the best mile races you can run in, so it seemed silly to step up in trip. 'However, there's Galileo on her dam's side so she is bred to stay, she'll definitely stay further and to me the Coronation looks one of the hottest Royal Ascot races of the week. 'You don't want to dodge horses, but the chance to run in another Classic, which looks a slightly easier option…and how sweet would it be to go back and win with no questions asked. 'I never thought I'd have a chip on my shoulder about winning a Classic, but we've got one more chance and that's the Prix de Diane. It's a wonderful position to be in and I'd love to go back over and get Charlie his Group One. 'If we could provide Charlie with that it would be huge. I came into the game two years ago next month as a complete novice. Charlie took me under his wing and now I view him as one of my best mates. 'I used to say to him 'I'll win you your first Group One' and he'd sort of roll his eyes, but in my book we know we did it and if we can do it officially, that would be fantastic.' While initially winning and then losing a Classic, it is easy to forget the giant strides Shes Perfect has made in two outings this season, pushing Zarigana to a neck in a Group Three first time out having shown only decent form at two. 'Heading into the Prix de la Grotte, the French were talking about Zarigana as if she was the second coming. She's a beautiful horse and it's a pleasure to be taking on horses like that and it is one-one in our books,' said Watts. 'Even in behind us in the Guineas there was a Royal Ascot winner in Bedtime Story, who was one of four from Coolmore, so it was very much a 'pinch me' moment, let alone being first past the post. 'She was always a big two-year-old and was always going to strengthen between two and three and this is why I love Charlie – he's such a patient trainer, he just gave her two runs and didn't run her again. 'His placement to get black type first up was sensational and he's just been unlucky with the rub of the green these last few years, but if you give him the ammunition, he's one of the best out there.'
Rhyl Journal
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Basher Watts determined to give Fellowes his first ‘official' Group One
Having crossed the line a nose in front of the French favourite Zarigana, the stewards deemed Shes Perfect drifted off a true line into Exactly, who in turn impeded Zarigana. With a line finally drawn under the race, Watts and trainer Charlie Fellowes now have to decide whether to take on the best fillies around over a mile at Royal Ascot or step up in trip and return to France for the Prix de Diane, the French Oaks. 'It's definitely 50-50 between Ascot for the Coronation and the French Oaks,' said Watts, who has developed a strong following on TikTok and Instagram and set up Basher Watts Racing on the back of his social media success and interactions with followers. Relive the dramatic moment the @BasherWatts team went from ecstasy to agony as Shes Perfect is dramatically stripped of a Classic victory in Paris… — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 21, 2025 'When Kieran (Shoemark) came back in after 'winning' the Guineas, he said stick at a mile. Although we were demoted, we won one of the best mile races you can run in, so it seemed silly to step up in trip. 'However, there's Galileo on her dam's side so she is bred to stay, she'll definitely stay further and to me the Coronation looks one of the hottest Royal Ascot races of the week. 'You don't want to dodge horses, but the chance to run in another Classic, which looks a slightly easier option…and how sweet would it be to go back and win with no questions asked. 'I never thought I'd have a chip on my shoulder about winning a Classic, but we've got one more chance and that's the Prix de Diane. It's a wonderful position to be in and I'd love to go back over and get Charlie his Group One. 'If we could provide Charlie with that it would be huge. I came into the game two years ago next month as a complete novice. Charlie took me under his wing and now I view him as one of my best mates. 'I used to say to him 'I'll win you your first Group One' and he'd sort of roll his eyes, but in my book we know we did it and if we can do it officially, that would be fantastic.' While initially winning and then losing a Classic, it is easy to forget the giant strides Shes Perfect has made in two outings this season, pushing Zarigana to a neck in a Group Three first time out having shown only decent form at two. 'Heading into the Prix de la Grotte, the French were talking about Zarigana as if she was the second coming. She's a beautiful horse and it's a pleasure to be taking on horses like that and it is one-one in our books,' said Watts. 'Even in behind us in the Guineas there was a Royal Ascot winner in Bedtime Story, who was one of four from Coolmore, so it was very much a 'pinch me' moment, let alone being first past the post. 'She was always a big two-year-old and was always going to strengthen between two and three and this is why I love Charlie – he's such a patient trainer, he just gave her two runs and didn't run her again. 'His placement to get black type first up was sensational and he's just been unlucky with the rub of the green these last few years, but if you give him the ammunition, he's one of the best out there.'
North Wales Chronicle
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Basher Watts determined to give Fellowes his first ‘official' Group One
Having crossed the line a nose in front of the French favourite Zarigana, the stewards deemed Shes Perfect drifted off a true line into Exactly, who in turn impeded Zarigana. With a line finally drawn under the race, Watts and trainer Charlie Fellowes now have to decide whether to take on the best fillies around over a mile at Royal Ascot or step up in trip and return to France for the Prix de Diane, the French Oaks. 'It's definitely 50-50 between Ascot for the Coronation and the French Oaks,' said Watts, who has developed a strong following on TikTok and Instagram and set up Basher Watts Racing on the back of his social media success and interactions with followers. Relive the dramatic moment the @BasherWatts team went from ecstasy to agony as Shes Perfect is dramatically stripped of a Classic victory in Paris… — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 21, 2025 'When Kieran (Shoemark) came back in after 'winning' the Guineas, he said stick at a mile. Although we were demoted, we won one of the best mile races you can run in, so it seemed silly to step up in trip. 'However, there's Galileo on her dam's side so she is bred to stay, she'll definitely stay further and to me the Coronation looks one of the hottest Royal Ascot races of the week. 'You don't want to dodge horses, but the chance to run in another Classic, which looks a slightly easier option…and how sweet would it be to go back and win with no questions asked. 'I never thought I'd have a chip on my shoulder about winning a Classic, but we've got one more chance and that's the Prix de Diane. It's a wonderful position to be in and I'd love to go back over and get Charlie his Group One. 'If we could provide Charlie with that it would be huge. I came into the game two years ago next month as a complete novice. Charlie took me under his wing and now I view him as one of my best mates. 'I used to say to him 'I'll win you your first Group One' and he'd sort of roll his eyes, but in my book we know we did it and if we can do it officially, that would be fantastic.' While initially winning and then losing a Classic, it is easy to forget the giant strides Shes Perfect has made in two outings this season, pushing Zarigana to a neck in a Group Three first time out having shown only decent form at two. 'Heading into the Prix de la Grotte, the French were talking about Zarigana as if she was the second coming. She's a beautiful horse and it's a pleasure to be taking on horses like that and it is one-one in our books,' said Watts. 'Even in behind us in the Guineas there was a Royal Ascot winner in Bedtime Story, who was one of four from Coolmore, so it was very much a 'pinch me' moment, let alone being first past the post. 'She was always a big two-year-old and was always going to strengthen between two and three and this is why I love Charlie – he's such a patient trainer, he just gave her two runs and didn't run her again. 'His placement to get black type first up was sensational and he's just been unlucky with the rub of the green these last few years, but if you give him the ammunition, he's one of the best out there.'
Leader Live
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Basher Watts determined to give Fellowes his first ‘official' Group One
Having crossed the line a nose in front of the French favourite Zarigana, the stewards deemed Shes Perfect drifted off a true line into Exactly, who in turn impeded Zarigana. With a line finally drawn under the race, Watts and trainer Charlie Fellowes now have to decide whether to take on the best fillies around over a mile at Royal Ascot or step up in trip and return to France for the Prix de Diane, the French Oaks. 'It's definitely 50-50 between Ascot for the Coronation and the French Oaks,' said Watts, who has developed a strong following on TikTok and Instagram and set up Basher Watts Racing on the back of his social media success and interactions with followers. Relive the dramatic moment the @BasherWatts team went from ecstasy to agony as Shes Perfect is dramatically stripped of a Classic victory in Paris… — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 21, 2025 'When Kieran (Shoemark) came back in after 'winning' the Guineas, he said stick at a mile. Although we were demoted, we won one of the best mile races you can run in, so it seemed silly to step up in trip. 'However, there's Galileo on her dam's side so she is bred to stay, she'll definitely stay further and to me the Coronation looks one of the hottest Royal Ascot races of the week. 'You don't want to dodge horses, but the chance to run in another Classic, which looks a slightly easier option…and how sweet would it be to go back and win with no questions asked. 'I never thought I'd have a chip on my shoulder about winning a Classic, but we've got one more chance and that's the Prix de Diane. It's a wonderful position to be in and I'd love to go back over and get Charlie his Group One. 'If we could provide Charlie with that it would be huge. I came into the game two years ago next month as a complete novice. Charlie took me under his wing and now I view him as one of my best mates. 'I used to say to him 'I'll win you your first Group One' and he'd sort of roll his eyes, but in my book we know we did it and if we can do it officially, that would be fantastic.' While initially winning and then losing a Classic, it is easy to forget the giant strides Shes Perfect has made in two outings this season, pushing Zarigana to a neck in a Group Three first time out having shown only decent form at two. 'Heading into the Prix de la Grotte, the French were talking about Zarigana as if she was the second coming. She's a beautiful horse and it's a pleasure to be taking on horses like that and it is one-one in our books,' said Watts. 'Even in behind us in the Guineas there was a Royal Ascot winner in Bedtime Story, who was one of four from Coolmore, so it was very much a 'pinch me' moment, let alone being first past the post. 'She was always a big two-year-old and was always going to strengthen between two and three and this is why I love Charlie – he's such a patient trainer, he just gave her two runs and didn't run her again. 'His placement to get black type first up was sensational and he's just been unlucky with the rub of the green these last few years, but if you give him the ammunition, he's one of the best out there.'
