Caballo De Mar rebounded from a series of lackluster runs at Royal Ascot and York to capture the Betfred Howards Wright Doncaster Cup, reaffirming his status as a top‑class stayer. The five‑year‑old had attracted considerable doubt after a last‑place finish in the Gold Cup and a quick‑drawn fourth place in the Lonsdale Cup at York, leading many to question whether he still possessed the stamina and heart required for the grueling two‑mile‑four‑furlong test. On the day of the Doncaster meeting, the George Scott‑trained horse was positioned just a furlong from the finish line on the historic Town Moor, with Oisín Murphy guiding him.
From that point, Caballo De Mar surged ahead of the Turkish‑bred Beylerbeyi, eventually pulling away to win by a length and a quarter, comfortably confirming his 5‑6 favourite odds. The victory was especially sweet given the pre‑race drama that saw the anticipated favourite, Queenstown, withdrawn and Emmet Mullins’ Winday cause a stir at the start, only to tire out and finish last after an over‑exerted effort. Scott, clearly delighted, spoke about the horse’s upcoming target: a defence of his title in the Prix du Cadran during Arc weekend at Longchamp in Paris.
“We needed to see that performance today if we’re to head back to Paris with him,” he said. “He loves Longchamp, loves the tempo, and the two‑mile‑four distance is right up his street. If Scandinavia doesn’t show up, he’ll be a serious contender.” He added that Caballo De Mar had shown value by committing earlier than expected, a sign of his improving confidence. The race itself had been robbed of its likely favourite after Queenstown’s withdrawal, and the earlier incident with Winday added a layer of unpredictability.
Winday, after a sweaty warm‑up, failed to find any rhythm and faded to the back of the seven‑horse field. In stark contrast, Caballo De Mar delivered a performance that left his trainer beaming with pride.
Reflecting on the horse’s recent form, Scott noted, “His last two outings were in the Gold Cup against two of the best stayers we’ve ever seen. He was third until the furlong pole, and at York they set a blistering pace and he stayed in the thick of it the whole way.
York can be a tricky track, but he handled it well.” He continued, “Today the set‑up was much more even for him, so I think it’s more about circumstance than anything else. This horse has been amazing for us for two years – he’s had two poor runs, but some horses need a year to rediscover form, whereas we got him back in three weeks.” Scott praised the owner, Sheikh Nasser, and the confidence placed in him by Victorious Racing, saying, “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 in the afternoon, that’s when you see true colours. In the paddock I could tell he was ready, and Oisín said straight away, ‘he’s here.’ Victorious Racing put a lot of trust in me, so it’s a relief to see him win today.
I know if anything goes wrong they’ve got my back.” The report also touched on other highlights from the Doncaster meeting. In the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes, Gimcrack runner‑up Final Objective claimed victory 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 secure a narrow win. Crownbreaker finished a neck behind, with Flann Sunna and long‑time leader Fast Track rounding out the placings. In The Black, despite encountering trouble and clipping heels near the line, managed a respectable fifth.
Doyle commented on his mount’s temperament, noting, “He’s a testament to Hamad and his team because he’s not an easy horse to manage. Our Qatari jockey, Faleh Bughenaim, rides him daily and has done a brilliant job. I only ride him occasionally, so I have to thank him for the work he does.
He can be wayward, especially late in the race, but that’s just his nature. I tried to stay on his coattails after being a little outpaced early, and his speed at six furlongs showed through. He’s become more straightforward than before.” Another standout performance came from Forbidden Fire, who held off a late surge by Rock Montreal to win the Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes.
The Listed race, featuring nine runners, was dominated by two Godolphin‑owned colts, with Charlie Appleby’s dual‑winner Nabati as the even‑money favourite and Roger Varian’s Rock Montreal at 5‑2. Forbidden Fire, one of only two fillies in the field, started at 9‑2 after a dominant debut at Salisbury.
Trained by Andrew Balding, the filly, a daughter of No Nay Never out of the elite mare Arabian Queen, travelled strongly and forced many rivals to lose ground a furlong out. Rock Montreal rallied late, closing to within a head, while Nabati faded to third.
Overall, the Doncaster Cup day delivered a mixture of redemption, surprise, and high‑quality racing, with Caballo De Mar’s resurgence serving as the headline story. His win not only silences skeptics but also sets the stage for a compelling showdown at Longchamp, where his affinity for the course and distance could see him add another prestigious title to his résumé.