Caballo De Mar rebounded from a string of lackluster performances at Royal Ascot and York to clinch victory in the Betfred Howards Wright Doncaster Cup, silencing the doubts that had been swirling around the five‑year‑old stayer. After finishing last in the Gold Cup and then pulling up quickly to take fourth place in the Lonsdale Cup at York, many wondered whether the horse still possessed the stamina and heart required for the gruelling two‑mile‑plus contests that define the staying division. The answer came in the form of a decisive win on the historic turf of Town Moor.
Under the guidance of jockey Oisín Murphy, Caballo De Mar was positioned just a furlong from the finish line, took the lead, and then stretched his advantage clear of the Turkish‑bred challenger Beylerbeyi. He crossed the line a length and a quarter ahead, confirming his status as the 5‑6 favourite and restoring confidence in his connections.
The race itself had been marked by a few twists before the gates even opened. The early favourite, Queenstown, was withdrawn at the last minute, leaving a void in the betting market. In addition, Emmet Mullins’ runner Winday caused a brief stir at the start, expending energy in a frantic scramble that left him exhausted and finishing well down the field, far behind the leaders. Those pre‑race incidents could have unsettled many trainers, but George Scott’s camp remained focused on the task at hand.
Looking ahead, Scott is already planning Caballo De Mar’s next target – a defence of his title in the prestigious Prix du Cadran during the Arc weekend at Longchamp in Paris. He explained, "We needed to see that performance today if we wanted to head back to Paris with him, because he’s two‑for‑two there.
We just have to hope Scandinavia doesn’t turn up – if he stays clear, he’ll be a real contender. He loves Longchamp, he loves the tempo of the races and two‑mile‑four furlongs is right up his street. I thought he was a bit undervalued today; he had to commit earlier than he wanted, but he rose to the occasion." The Doncaster Cup had been deprived of its likely favourite when Queenstown was pulled out, and the earlier drama involving Winday only added to the intrigue. Winday, after a sweaty warm‑up, failed to find any rhythm in the race itself and faded to a distant seventh place.
In contrast, Caballo De Mar proved to be as solid as gold, much to the delight of his trainer and owner. Scott reflected on the horse’s recent form: "His last two outings were in a Gold Cup against two of the best stayers we’ve seen, and he was third until the furlong pole. At York they set a blistering pace and he was in the thick of it the whole way. York can be a tricky track, and he handled it well.
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 bad runs, but some horses take a year to return to form.
We got him back within three weeks, which is remarkable." He added a personal note about the owner’s confidence: "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 knew he was ready, and Oisín said straight away, ‘he’s here.’ Victorious Racing placed a lot 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 shifted focus to other highlights from the Doncaster meeting. In the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes, Gimcrack runner‑up Final Objective emerged victorious after a thrilling finish.
Hamad Al Jehani’s juvenile has shown steady improvement throughout the season, most recently narrowing the margin to just three‑quarters of a length when finishing second 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. Doyle timed his run perfectly, guiding the horse through the shadows of the post to claim the win. Crownbreaker was a neck second, while Flann Sunna and long‑time leader Fast Track filled the third and fourth spots respectively.
In The Black, despite encountering traffic and clipping heels near the finish, still managed a respectable fifth. Doyle praised the teamwork behind the horse: "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." Another notable performance came from Forbidden Fire, who resisted a late surge from Rock Montreal to secure the Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes. The Listed race, featuring nine runners, was dominated by two Godolphin‑owned colts: Charlie Appleby’s dual‑winner Nabati, the even‑money favourite, and Roger Varian’s promising Yarmouth performer Rock Montreal at 5‑2.
Forbidden Fire, one of only two fillies in the field, entered at 9‑2 after a dominant debut win at Salisbury. Trained by Andrew Balding, the filly, a daughter of No Nay Never out of the top‑class mare Arabian Queen, travelled strongly and forced many rivals to lose ground a furlong out.
Rock Montreal rallied late, closing the gap to within a head, while Nabati could only manage third place. These results underscore the depth and excitement of the Doncaster St Leger Festival, offering a blend of seasoned stayers proving their class and emerging talents making a mark.
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