Group 1 winner Caballo De Mar – ridden by Oisin Murphy - was well-backed into odds-on favouritism before the Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes (G2) and duly obliged to regain the winning thread.
Sporting first-time blinkers, Caballo De Mar was on a bit of a retrieval mission after two below-par runs before this. However, this was much from like it from the 5-year-old who travelled smoothly into the race before asserting inside the final two furlongs. He went onto win by 1 & ¼ -lengths from Beylerbeyi in second and Ascending who was a further 3-lengths behind in third.
Murphy said: “He’s done it nicely. I loved how he picked up. I felt his action going to post was as good as ever and this is a great training performance to get him to bounce back after two below-par runs.”
All roads should now lead back to Paris for the Prix du Cadran (G1), where George Scott will hope the Victorious Forever-owned gelding can defend his crown in one of the big Group 1 contests on Arc day.
Scott said: “I felt the pressure today but I have very good staff who know the horse very well. I am very relieved. I thought he travelled through the race like a horse who was in very good form with himself. It’s very satisfying.”
Final Objective – ridden by James Doyle - showed a likeable attitude to grind it out and win the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes (G2), despite causing interference with some of his rivals as the field approached the winning post.
Doyle said: “That pays tribute to Hamad (Al Jehani) and his team. Final Objective is not an easy conveyance whatsoever. He was a bit wayward again, he's a bit tricky. He's not easy but he's more straightforward than he used to be.”
The British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap was won by Silver Lake who secured an impressive four-timer on her first attempt at 1m4f. This was another winner on the day for Wathnan Racing and James Doyle.
The opening Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes was fought out by debut winners Forbidden Fire and Rock Montreal with the former holding on to fend off the latter. This was a first win in the race for trainer-jockey combo Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy.
The Betfred St Leger Festival will return in 2027, following this year’s landmark 250th anniversary celebrations. Tickets are now on sale for the 2027 festival. Secure yours for the best price online at www.doncaster-racecourse.co.uk
