As he enters his fifth season training, Reece Goodwin maintains his habit of checking online sales for low-cost horses.
Coastwatch, a previous stakes winner, represents one of his latest picks, heading into the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday in his first start for the new handler.
Initially trained by Chris Waller, Coastwatch later joined Richard and Will Freedman, the father-son partnership, until being sold after a last-place effort at Canberra back in November.
Coastwatch triumphed in a Listed race at Sandown earlier in 2025, though the gelding was unplaced in all eight starts thereafter.
Goodwin believes Coastwatch matches the profile for his stable upon acquiring him.
“It’s what we have been doing for a number of years now,” Goodwin said.
“He’s a horse that has shown plenty of ability previously and tapered off in form for whatever reason, and sometimes we can get them going again, and sometimes we don’t.
“The older they are and the higher rated they are, the tougher it is to get them going, but it wasn’t too long ago that he was running OK and everything is price relative as well.
“If he had brought $40,000 or $50,000, we wouldn’t have him, but he only made $20,000 which we thought was a price worth risking on a horse that is going to be running in a race like Saturday, a $200,000 race, even though it’s probably a bit more competitive, or stronger, than I anticipated.”
Goodwin holds no high hopes for quick success with Coastwatch, who has trialled well lately, notably third at Pakenham behind Doncaster Mile fancy Sheza Alibi.
Coastwatch draws poorly for Saturday, Goodwin observed, yet closing well would delight the trainer.
“We’ll probably ride him quiet, but it would be good to see him getting through the line late and then we’ll look to step him up to 1600 (metres) second up and see him a bit more competitive then,” Goodwin said.
“We won’t be searching for anything interstate. We’ll keep him at home and try and pick off a race or two and we basically only have to win one of these races to be well in front.
“He does handle some sting out of the ground and being an older horse with some wear and tear, he certainly wouldn’t suit summer.
“We’re just looking for a good kick-off on Saturday and building our way from there.”
Visit betting sites to find racing odds for the Group 3 Victoria Handicap at Caulfield.
