Caballo De Mar rebounded impressively after lackluster outings at Royal Ascot and York, seizing victory in the Betfred Howards Wright Doncaster Cup. The five‑year‑old had been the subject of speculation following a last‑place finish in the Gold Cup and a quick‑drawn fourth in the Lonsdale Cup at York, prompting doubts about his stamina for long‑distance contests.
Yet, under the guidance of jockey Oisín Murphy, the George Scott‑trained stayer turned the tables, taking the lead a furlong from the finish on Town Moor and pulling clear of Beylerbeyi to win by a length and a quarter as the 5‑6 favourite. The race itself was missing its probable favourite after Queenstown was withdrawn, and it began with a hiccup when Emmet Mullins’ Winday caused trouble at the start. Winday, having expended energy early, faded dramatically and was recorded as the tail‑end of the seven‑horse field.
In contrast, Caballo De Mar proved his mettle, delivering a performance that delighted his connections and silenced his critics. Trainer George Scott expressed his optimism about the horse’s upcoming campaign, noting that the next target is a defence of the title in the Prix du Cadran during Arc weekend at Longchamp, Paris.
He explained, "We needed to see that today if we wanted to head back to Paris with him, as he's two from two there – we just have to hope Scandinavia doesn't turn up. 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. I thought he was value for a bit more today, he had to commit earlier than he wanted." Scott highlighted the horse’s resilience after two disappointing runs, emphasizing that Caballo De Mar bounced back within three weeks – a rapid turnaround in the world of stayers.
He praised owner Sheikh Nasser, saying, "He's a world‑class athlete and you can train in the gym all you like but if you come out in the afternoon in the heat of battle, that is when you see true colours. In the paddock I knew he was on it and Oisín said straight away 'he's here'. 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." The Doncaster Cup, traditionally a test of stamina, had been deprived of its likely favourite after Queenstown’s withdrawal, and the pre‑race drama with Winday added an extra layer of intrigue. Nevertheless, Caballo De Mar’s performance was described as "as good as gold" by Scott, who reflected on the horse’s recent form: "His last two races have been in a Gold Cup against two of the best stayers we've seen, and he was third until the furlong pole, and last time 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. Today was a much more even set‑up for him, so I think it's more down to circumstance than anything. 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." In other racing news, the Gimcrack runner‑up Final Objective clinched a thrilling victory in the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes.
Hamad Al Jehani’s juvenile has shown steady improvement this season, most recently finishing a close three‑quarters of a length behind Arapaho Gold at York. Dropping back to five furlongs for the first time, the gelded son of Sioux Nation entered as a 9‑4 favourite with James Doyle aboard. Doyle timed his challenge perfectly, guiding the horse through the shadows of the post to claim the win.
Crownbreaker was a neck behind, while Flann Sunna and long‑time leader Fast Track rounded out the placings. In The Black, after encountering traffic and clipping heels, managed only fifth.
Doyle praised the teamwork behind the horse, stating, "He's a testament to Hamad and his team because he has not been an easy conveyance whatsoever. Faleh [Bughenaim], our Qatari jockey, 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. He was a bit wayward again late on but that is just his nature, he's a bit tricky.
I was just trying to hang on to their coattails because I was a little bit outpaced early. He's got decent form at six and this was his first time back at five.
It wasn't a problem as he's got more than enough speed. I thought he was going to win the Gimcrack but when he got out he hung his chance away and I thought he was going to do a similar thing today. He's not easy but he's more straightforward than he used to be." Meanwhile, the Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes saw Forbidden Fire fend off a late surge from Rock Montreal to secure top honours.
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 priced at even money 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 high‑class Arabian Queen, travelled strongly and forced many rivals into trouble a furlong out. Rock Montreal rallied late, challenging under the near side rail, but ultimately fell just a head short, while Nabati was relegated to third place.
These performances underscore the unpredictable nature of staying races and highlight the importance of tactical riding, conditioning, and a bit of luck. As the season progresses, connections will be watching closely to see which horses can maintain form across the demanding two‑mile‑plus distances that define the British and European staying calendar.