Caballo De Mar halted Scandinavia’s impressive eight‑race winning streak by repeating his triumph in the Qatar Prix du Cadran, a feat he first achieved a year earlier, in a nail‑biting finish at Longchamp in Paris. The seasoned stayer, trained by George Scott, was expertly guided by jockey Oisin Murphy, who made a decisive move at the final furlong. Murphy surged past the fading early leader, Queenstown, and seized the lead from the heavily‑favoured Scandinavia. The two front‑runners clashed fiercely over the last furlong, with Scandinavia briefly reclaiming the advantage.
However, Caballo De Mar rallied in the final strides, edging out his rival by a narrow neck as they approached the finish line. The victory was not without controversy; Ryan Moore, aboard the 1‑6 favourite Scandinavia, lodged an objection, prompting a stewards’ inquiry. The inquiry focused on whether Caballo De Mar, the 9‑2 outsider, had made contact with Scandinavia in the closing stages. After careful deliberation, the stewards upheld the result, confirming Caballo De Mar as the winner.
Scandinavia entered the race on the back of an outstanding record that included five Group One victories, making him the clear market favourite. Yet Caballo De Mar proved a formidable challenger, especially on Parisian ground where he now boasts a perfect three‑for‑three record in Group One events.
After the race, Scott praised his horse and the team, saying, "What an amazing performance from the horse and the team at home. I was very emotional afterwards – he's just such a special horse to us, and to come and win the Cadran again is great. He's an amazing horse and just a real character. He takes a lot of managing at home, he's very lazy and it's hard to get a grip on him." The Newmarket‑based trainer had confidence that his horse could topple the red‑hot favourite.
"We wanted to track Scandinavia and it all went to plan. We managed to get well up on him and then he fought back," Scott explained. He added that the race conditions suited Caballo De Mar perfectly: "I thought if there was an opportunity to beat him it was today because my horse loves it here, he was showing all the right signs and Scandinavia had a very hard race in Ireland last time. We felt we could beat him today, but you're not going to say something like that.
We'll see how he comes out of it, but he could go to Ascot on Champions Day." Aidan O'Brien, the trainer of Scandinavia, offered his perspective on the outcome. "He ran a great race and it's been a long season for him. The ground was a little bit on the slower side for him. Ryan said he was coming back at him.
That will be him finished for the season. I was never going to go to Ascot as the ground would definitely be gone for him by then," O'Brien said, acknowledging the challenges his horse faced on the softer turf. The race itself was a masterclass in stamina and tactics.
Caballo De Mar, known for his late‑closing style, settled comfortably in the midfield before being asked to quicken as the field turned into the home straight. Murphy timed his move impeccably, urging the horse forward at the furlong marker. The surge caught Scandinavia off‑guard, forcing the favourite to respond under pressure. The two colts engaged in a fierce duel, each testing the other's resolve.
In the final 200 metres, Caballo De Mar displayed a burst of acceleration that proved just enough to edge ahead, while Scandinavia, despite a valiant effort, could not muster the extra yardage needed to retain the lead. Beyond the immediate drama, the result has broader implications for the European staying calendar. Caballo De Mar’s victory positions him as a leading contender for upcoming major long‑distance contests, including the Ascot Gold Cup on Champions Day. His consistency at the highest level suggests he could dominate the staying division for the remainder of the season.
Conversely, Scandinavia’s defeat may prompt his connections to reassess his campaign, especially given the softer ground that seemed to hamper his performance. Fans and pundits alike have praised the quality of the race. Sky Sports Racing highlighted the event as a showcase of top‑class endurance racing, noting the strategic brilliance of both trainers and the skillful riding of Murphy and Moore.
The race also underscored the importance of race‑day conditions; while Caballo De Mar thrives on firmer ground, Scandinavia appeared less comfortable on the slower turf, a factor that may influence future race selections. In summary, Caballo De Mar’s repeat victory in the Qatar Prix du Cadran not only ends Scandinavia’s impressive winning run but also cements the former’s reputation as one of the premier stayers in Europe.
The narrow neck‑length win, the stewards’ inquiry, and the post‑race comments from both camps provide a rich narrative that will be remembered by racing enthusiasts for years to come. The upcoming weeks will reveal whether Caballo De Mar can continue his dominance and whether Scandinavia can rebound from this setback, setting the stage for further thrilling encounters on the world’s great racecourses.