FLYING START FOR WATSON marred by suspension

British jockey Jason Watson made a flying start to his short-term Victorian stint with a winner from his first ride at Mornington on New Year’s Day.

Watson, 19, had two rides for Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Danny O’Brien and guided Button Express ($4.20) to success in his 1000-metre maiden.

His other ride, the O'Brien-trained Erosive ($34) finished twelfth in a field of 13 runners in a 1500-metre three-year-old maiden.

His bright start was marred by a 10-meeting careless riding suspension incurred aboard his winner.

The UK jockey,  who has ridden 218 winners during his short career, including three Group 1 victories,  will return to riding on January 11.

Watson follows the footsteps of Oisin Murphy, Kieran Shoemark and Josh Bryan as European jockeys to ride summer stints for O’Brien.

By Carl Di Iorio for Racing.com