Caballo De Mar recovered admirably from lackluster performances at Royal Ascot and York, snapping back to winning ways by taking the Betfred Howards Wright Doncaster Cup. The five‑year‑old had been the subject of speculation after finishing last in the Gold Cup and then pulling up quickly to place fourth in the Lonsdale Cup at York, leading many to wonder if he still possessed the stamina required for long‑distance contests. Yet, under the guidance of jockey Oisín Murphy, the George Scott‑trained stayer turned the tables on his critics. With a decisive move a furlong from the finish on the Town Moor, Caballo De Mar surged ahead of rival Beylerbeyi, clinching victory as a 5‑6 favourite by a length and a quarter.
The race itself had been stripped of its presumptive favourite when Queenstown was withdrawn, and the start was further complicated by an incident involving Emmet Mullins’ runner Winday, who expended energy early and ultimately faded to a distant last of the seven‑horse field. Despite that early drama, Caballo De Mar proved his class, delivering a performance that delighted his connections.
Trainer George Scott is now eagerly anticipating the next test for his charge – a defence of the Prix du Cadran during the Arc weekend at Longchamp in Paris. He explained, "We needed to see that kind of effort today if we were to take him back to Paris, because he’s unbeaten in two starts there. All we have to hope for is that Scandinavia doesn’t turn up, because if he’s left alone he’ll be a real contender.
He loves Longchamp, loves the tempo and the two‑mile‑four‑furlong distance is right up his street. I thought he was a bit undervalued today; he had to be asked to commit earlier than he would have liked." Scott also reflected on Caballo De Mar’s recent form, noting that his last two outings were against elite stayers in Gold Cup‑type races. "He was third right up to the furlong pole in the Gold Cup, and at York he ran a hell of a gallop and was in the thick of it the whole way.
York can be a tricky track and he handled it well," the trainer said. "Today the conditions were more even for him, so I think it was circumstance rather than anything else that made the difference." He continued, "This horse has been a revelation for us over the past two years. He’s had two off‑days, but some horses need a whole year to return to form – we got him back in three weeks.
I told Sheikh Nasser this morning that he’s a world‑class athlete; you can train in the gym all you like, but when you step out into the heat of battle you see the true colours. In the paddock I could tell he was ready and Oisín said straight away, ‘he’s here.’ Victorious Racing placed a great deal of trust in me, so it’s a relief to see him win today. I know that if anything goes wrong they’ll have my back." The report then shifts to other highlights from the Doncaster meeting. In the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes, Gimcrack runner‑up Final Objective emerged victorious in a thrilling finish.
The juvenile, owned by Hamad Al Jehani, has shown steady improvement throughout the season, most recently losing by three‑quarters of a length to Arapaho Gold at York. Dropping back to five furlongs for the first time, the gelded son of Sioux Nation started as a 9‑4 favourite under James Doyle, who timed his challenge perfectly to take the win by a narrow margin.
Crownbreaker was a neck second, with Flann Sunna and long‑time leader Fast Track filling out the placings. In The Black, after encountering trouble and clipping heels near the finish, could only manage fifth.
Doyle praised the horse’s connections, saying, "He’s a testament to Hamad and his team because he’s not an easy horse to manage. Our Qatari jockey Faleh Bughenaim has done a brilliant job riding him every day, while I only get occasional rides, so I have to thank him. He can be wayward at times, that’s his nature, but he’s got plenty of speed. I thought he’d win the Gimcrack, but he hung his chance away, and I expected something similar today.
He’s still a bit tricky, but more straightforward than before." Another notable performance came from Forbidden Fire, who held off a late charge from Rock Montreal to win the Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes. The Listed race, part of Doncaster’s St Leger Festival, featured nine runners and was dominated by two Godolphin colts, with Charlie Appleby’s dual winner Nabati as the even‑money favourite and Roger Varian’s promising Rock Montreal at 5‑2. Forbidden Fire, one of only two fillies in the field and backed at 9‑2 after an impressive debut at Salisbury, showed her class under Murphy. By the final furlong she had taken the lead, and despite a late surge from Rock Montreal, she kept the advantage by a head, while Nabati was relegated to third.
Bred from No Nay Never out of the top‑class mare Arabian Queen, the filly demonstrated the staying power and turn of foot needed to succeed at this level. Overall, the Doncaster Cup meeting delivered a mix of redemption, surprise and high‑quality performances, with Caballo De Mar’s resurgence providing a compelling narrative for fans and a promising outlook for his upcoming challenge at Longchamp.