Caballo De Mar rebounded from a series of lackluster performances 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 drawn criticism after a last‑place finish in the Gold Cup and a quick‑drawn fourth in the Lonsdale Cup at York, prompting questions about whether he still possessed the stamina and heart required for long‑distance contests.
Yet, under the guidance of jockey Oisín Murphy, the George Scott‑trained horse silenced his doubters by taking the lead a furlong from the finish on Town Moor and pulling clear of the runner‑up Beylerbeyi to win by one and a quarter lengths as the 5‑6 favourite. The race itself suffered a blow when the anticipated favourite Queenstown was withdrawn, and the start was further disrupted by Emmet Mullins’ Winday, who broke poorly, expended unnecessary energy, and ultimately faded to finish last of the seven runners. In contrast, Caballo De Mar displayed the poise and tenacity expected of a champion.
Scott expressed optimism about the horse’s upcoming campaign, noting that the next target is a defence of his title in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp during the Arc weekend. “We needed to see that today if we wanted to head back to Paris with him,” Scott said.
“He loves Longchamp, loves the tempo and the two‑mile‑four‑furlong distance – it’s right up his street.” Scott also praised the colt’s consistency, recalling that his last two outings were against elite stayers in the Gold Cup, where he was a close third until the final furlong, and a hard‑fought fourth at York where he stayed in the thick of the action throughout. “York can be a tricky track and he handled it well,” Scott added.
“Today the setup suited him better, so it was more about circumstance than ability.” He reflected on the horse’s resilience, saying, “He’s been amazing for us for two years. He’s had two poor runs, but some horses need a whole year to return to form – we got him back in three weeks.” The trainer also highlighted the confidence of owner Sheikh Nasser, noting that while training in the gym is important, true character shows when a horse faces the heat of battle in the afternoon. “In the paddock I knew he was ready, and Oisín said straight away ‘he’s here’,” Scott recalled.
“Victorious Racing placed a lot of trust in me, and it’s a relief to see him win today. If anything goes wrong, they have my back.” In other news from the Doncaster meeting, the Gimcrack‑runner‑up Final Objective emerged victorious in a dramatic finish to the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes.
The juvenile, owned by Hamad Al Jehani, has shown steady improvement this 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 lead in the final strides. Crownbreaker finished a close second, with Flann Sunna and long‑time leader Fast Track rounding out the placings.
In The Black was unlucky, encountering traffic and clipping heels before nearly falling at the line, ultimately finishing fifth. Doyle praised the horse’s development, stating, “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 daily, so I have to thank him. He can be wayward, but that’s just his nature.” Doyle added that the colt’s performance at five furlongs showed that he possesses ample speed, despite being more accustomed to six‑furlong trips.
The Doncaster Cup also featured a notable performance from Forbidden Fire, who held off a late surge by Rock Montreal to claim the Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes. The listed race, part of the second day of the St Leger Festival, attracted nine runners, with the market dominated by two Godolphin colts: Charlie Appleby’s dual winner Nabati, the even‑money favourite, and Roger Varian’s promising Rock Montreal at 5‑2. Forbidden Fire, one of only two fillies in the field, started at 9‑2 after a dominant debut win at Salisbury.
Trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Oisín Murphy, the filly, a daughter of No Nay Never out of Arabian Queen, travelled strongly and forced many rivals to lose ground a furlong from home. Rock Montreal rallied late, pressuring the leader, but fell short by a head as Nabati was relegated to third.
Overall, the Doncaster meeting delivered a mixture of redemption, emerging talent, and hard‑fought battles. Caballo De Mar’s resurgence provides a compelling storyline heading into the French staying championship, while the performances of Final Objective and Forbidden Fire highlight the depth of quality among the younger generation of stayers and sprinters.
Fans can look forward to further action as the season progresses, with the Prix du Cadran offering another chance for Caballo De Mar to cement his reputation on the international stage.