After a lackluster showing at Royal Ascot and a disappointing run at York, Caballo De Mar returned to the winner's circle by taking 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‑pulled effort that left him fourth in the Lonsdale Cup at York. Yet, under the guidance of jockey Oisín Murphy, the George Scott‑trained stayer silenced his critics, seizing the lead a furlong from the finish on Town Moor and pulling away from rival Beylerbeyi to claim victory by one and a quarter lengths as the 5‑6 favourite.
The race itself was marked by a series of pre‑race dramas. The anticipated favourite, Queenstown, was withdrawn, and Emmet Mullins’ runner Winday caused a stir at the start, expending valuable energy and ultimately fading to finish a distant seventh. Despite these setbacks, Caballo De Mar demonstrated why he remains a top‑class stay‑over, delivering a performance that pleased his trainer and connections. Following the win, Scott expressed optimism about the horse's upcoming campaign, specifically targeting a defence of his title in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp during Arc weekend.
He explained, "We needed to see that today if we want to head back to Paris. He loves Longchamp, loves the tempo, and two‑mile‑four is his perfect distance.
If Scandinavia doesn’t turn up, he’ll be a real contender." Scott also praised the horse's determination, noting that Caballo De Mar had to be asked to commit earlier than preferred but rose to the occasion. The Doncaster Cup had been robbed of its likely favourite after Queenstown’s withdrawal, and the early incident with Winday added further intrigue. Nonetheless, Caballo De Mar proved his worth, delivering a gold‑standard run that delighted his trainer. "His last two races were in the Gold Cup against two of the best stayers we’ve seen," Scott said.
"He was third until the furlong pole, and at York he stayed in the thick of it the whole way. York can be a tricky track, but he handled it well. Today the set‑up suited him better, so it’s more about circumstance than anything else." Scott continued, emphasizing the horse’s resilience: "He’s been amazing for us for two years. He’s had two bad runs, but some horses need a year to return to form; we got him back in three weeks.
I told Sheikh Nasser this morning he’s a world‑class athlete. You can train in the gym all you like, but when you step into the heat of battle you see the 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 he won today. I know if anything goes wrong they have my back." In other racing action at the Doncaster Festival, the Gimcrack runner‑up Final Objective secured a thrilling victory in the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes.
Hamad Al Jehani’s juvenile, who has shown steady improvement throughout the season, dropped back to five furlongs for the first time and entered the race as a 9‑4 favourite under James Doyle. Doyle timed his challenge perfectly, guiding the gelded son of Sioux Nation into the lead in the final stages.
Crownbreaker finished a neck behind, with Flann Sunna and long‑time leader Fast Track taking third and fourth respectively. In The Black, after encountering traffic and clipping heels, managed only a fifth‑place finish.
Doyle praised the horse’s development, saying, "He’s a testament to Hamad and his team because he hasn’t been an easy ride. Our Qatari jockey Faleh Bughenaim does a brilliant job riding him daily, while I only get occasional rides, so I have to thank him. He can be wayward, that’s his nature, but today he showed enough speed to overcome the early pace.
I thought he’d win the Gimcrack, but he hung his chance away. He’s still tricky but more straightforward than before." The Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes also produced a memorable finish. Forbidden Fire, one of only two fillies in the nine‑horse field, held off a late surge from Rock Montreal to claim the Listed title on the second day of the St Leger Festival.
The market had been dominated by two Godolphin colts, with Charlie Appleby’s dual‑winner Nabati at even odds and Roger Varian’s Rock Montreal at 5‑2. Forbidden Fire, backed at 9‑2 after a dominant debut at Salisbury, was ridden masterfully by Murphy. Bred from No Nay Never out of the high‑class Arabian Queen, the filly, trained by Andrew Balding, displayed a powerful turn of foot, forcing many rivals to struggle a furlong out. Rock Montreal rallied late, threatening the lead, but ultimately fell short by a head as Nabati was beaten into third place.
Overall, the Doncaster meeting highlighted the resilience and adaptability of stayers like Caballo De Mar, the emerging talent of juveniles such as Final Objective, and the tenacity of fillies like Forbidden Fire. These performances set the stage for the upcoming Prix du Cadran at Longchamp, where Caballo De Mar will aim to reaffirm his status among Europe’s elite long‑distance runners. The festival also underscored the importance of strategic placement, trainer insight, and jockey execution in delivering top‑class results across a range of distances and conditions.