Caballo De Mar rebounded from a series of lackluster performances at Royal Ascot and York to capture the Betfred Howards Wright Doncaster Cup, silencing the doubts that had surrounded the five‑year‑old stayer. After finishing last in the Gold Cup and then dropping back quickly to a fourth‑place finish in the Lonsdale Cup at York, many wondered if the horse still possessed the stamina and heart required for the grueling two‑mile‑plus contests that define his career.
Yet on the day of the Doncaster meeting, under the guidance of jockey Oisín Murphy, Caballo De Mar took the lead a furlong from the finish on the historic Town Moor and pulled away from his nearest rival, Beylerbeyi, to win by a length and a quarter. He entered the race as the 5‑6 favourite and lived up to the short odds, delivering a performance that reminded everyone why he is regarded as one of the top stayers in the United Kingdom.
The race itself was not without its own drama. The initial favourite, Queenstown, had been withdrawn before the start, leaving a vacuum that many expected would be filled by another high‑profile contender.
Adding to the intrigue, Emmet Mullins’ horse Winday caused a stir at the gates, becoming agitated and sweating heavily before the start. The nervous energy proved detrimental; Winday never found his rhythm during the contest and faded to a distant seventh place, far behind the leaders.
Trainer George Scott, who has overseen Caballo De Mar’s development for the past two seasons, expressed his satisfaction with the horse’s return to form. He explained that the Doncaster Cup offered a more evenly matched field compared with the elite company Caballo De Mar faced in his two recent Gold Cup outings. "His last two races were in a Gold Cup against two of the best stayers we’ve seen, and he was third until the furlong pole, and at York they went a hell of a gallop and he was in the thick of it the whole way.
York is a funny track too, they can misfire and he did," Scott said. He added that the horse’s recent setbacks were more a matter of circumstance than a loss of ability: "This horse has been amazing for us for two years – he’s had two bad runs, so what – some horses go off the boil for a year before coming back but we got him back within three weeks." Looking ahead, Scott hinted at an ambitious target for Caballo De Mar: a defence of his title in the prestigious Prix du Cadran at Longchamp during the Arc weekend in Paris. "We needed to see that from him today if we wanted to go back to Paris with him, as he’s two from two there – we just have to hope Scandinavia doesn’t turn up there. If he doesn’t then he’s going to be a player.
He loves Longchamp, he loves the tempo of the races and two‑mile‑four is right up his street," Scott explained. He praised the horse’s temperament and training regime, noting that while gym work is valuable, true character is revealed when the horse steps onto the racecourse in the heat of competition. The victory also meant a great deal to the owners, Victorious Racing, who have placed considerable trust in Scott and his team.
"Victorious Racing put an awful lot of trust in me so it is a relief he’s won today. I know that if it goes wrong they have got my back," Scott said, underscoring the strong partnership between trainer, jockey, and owners.
In addition to Caballo De Mar’s story, the Doncaster meeting featured several other noteworthy performances. In the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes, Gimcrack runner‑up Final Objective, trained by Hamad Al Jehani, claimed victory after a thrilling finish. The juvenile, a gelded son of Sioux Nation, had shown steady improvement throughout the season and, dropping back to five furlongs for the first time, was backed as a 9‑4 favourite. Jockey James Doyle timed his run perfectly, guiding the horse to the front in the final strides.
Crownbreaker finished a close second, with Flann Sunna and long‑time leader Fast Track rounding out the placings. Doyle praised the horse’s connections, especially Qatari rider Faleh Bughenaim, who works with the colt daily: "He’s a testament to Hamad and his team because he has not been an easy conveyance whatsoever. Faleh has done a brilliant job with him because he rides him every day so he has to suffer on a daily basis while I only ride him now and again so I have to thank him." Another highlight of the day was the Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes, where fillies proved they could match the colts.
Forbidden Fire, owned and bred by Jeff Smith and trained by Andrew Balding, held off a late challenge from Rock Montreal to secure the win. Entering the race at 9‑2, the No Nay Never‑by‑Arabian Queen filly had already impressed with a dominant debut at Salisbury. She travelled strongly throughout the race, forcing several rivals to lose ground a furlong out.
Rock Montreal, a Godolphin‑owned colt trained by Roger Varian, rallied late and finished a head behind Forbidden Fire, while Charlie Appleby’s Nabati, the even‑money favourite, was relegated to third after a hard‑fought effort. Overall, the Doncaster Cup day delivered a mix of redemption, surprise, and high‑quality racing.
Caballo De Mar’s resurgence not only restored confidence in his staying credentials but also set the stage for an exciting campaign abroad. The performances of Final Objective and Forbidden Fire added depth to the meeting, showcasing the emerging talent among younger horses and the continued relevance of top‑class fillies in elite company. Fans of Sky Sports Racing can look forward to further coverage, interviews, and analysis as the season progresses toward the St Leger and the French racing festivals, where many of the day’s protagonists will likely make their next big appearances.