CABALLO DE MAR provided George Scott with the biggest success of his career with a gutsy success in the Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp.
Ridden by Tom Marquand, who was stepping in for the injured Callum Shepherd, the four-year-old had to be brave to get the better of Andrew Balding’s stalwart Coltrane.
The winner has been a great advert for Scott this season, as while he has been prolific in winning eight of his last 11 races, his first victory came off a lowly mark of 64 last September.
He was second in the Chester Cup to East India Dock, second at Royal Ascot in the Copper Horse Stakes and won the German St Leger last time out.
While Scott had won local Group Ones in Bahrain, this was his first top-level success in Europe. The win was also notable for owners Victorious Forever, a new venture between brothers Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid who had previously raced horses under their own steam.
Scott said: “It’s an amazing feeling and a very special day for me and my team at home – we’ve finally got there.
“I was on the floor as he crossed the line I have to admit and I don’t really get emotional, so that’s what it meant to me. We’ve been waiting for it for a long time and it felt like we needed it as well.
“He’s a one-off this horse, isn’t he? He started his life in low-grade handicaps, but the great thing about him is he’s got a huge heart.
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“It all went to plan. He loves to race on the hip of the leader, that seems to be his happy place and Tom is riding brilliantly, but I think he had a willing partner – Tom said he could have gone round again after the line.
“We supplemented earlier in the week. Sometimes when you have horses in good form you’re able to make that decision and Shaikh Nasser just said ‘go for it’.
“It’s sort of surreal as we’ve been training for 10 years and trained loads of stakes winners, but no Group One before today, so I’m just elated to be honest.”
Immediate plans for Caballo De Mar are up in the air, with Scott adding: “He has his whole future ahead of him and he might not be done for the year. There’s a couple of dances left possibly and he’s such a unique character in that he’s so tough and durable, but we’ll see how he is and enjoy today.
“He’ll be out in the Middle East next year for races like the Red Sea Turf (in Saudi Arabia) and World Cup night (in Dubai).”
What a performance! 🤩
Consent is in a class of her own in the Group One Qatar Prix de Royallieu! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/CA13SMROY4
Meanwhile, Consent ran out a tremendously impressive winner of the Qatar Prix de Royallieu for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe-winning team of Sir Mark Prescott and Luke Morris.
The consistent three-year-old had finished second to William Haggas’ Santorini Star in the Park Hill at Doncaster on her last outing and the two met again and once more dominated proceedings.
While on Town Moor Morris allowed Tom Marquand a bit of rope in front on Santorini Star, this time he sat right on the front-runner’s hind quarters.
Consent did briefly look in trouble when Marquand tried to steal a march on his rivals in the false straight, but Morris was just winding his mount up.
He pulled her away from the main chasing group and she fairly took off, leaving Santorini Star in her wake, and while the Haggas filly fended off the others, the Doncaster form was turned on its head as Consent came home with four and a half lengths in hand.
Whether she can now go on and emulate Prescott’s Alpinista, who won the Arc in 2022, remains to be seen.
Prescott, who famously rarely travels abroad, was not in Paris on this occasion and told the PA news agency: “I couldn’t really get out of it for the Arc, but I managed to get out of it today!
“With her action, we didn’t really think she wanted softer ground. She was all at sea when she ran on it at Haydock last year and that was the worry today.
“But with the benefit of hindsight, I think the ground is probably why she’s managed to turn the form around with the other filly (Santorini Star).
“I’m thrilled and she will stay in training next season. She is quite light-framed so I think we’ll race her sparingly, but it’s something to keep me going for another year!”
Morris said: “She has been brought along very steadily, which has meant she’s always kept improving a bit.
“I think it’s been masterful by Sir Mark the way he’s prepared her. Hopefully she can take another jump from this.”
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Caballo De Mar earns gutsy victory at ParisLongchamp as Consent also prevails
LAST UPDATE | 4 Oct
CABALLO DE MAR provided George Scott with the biggest success of his career with a gutsy success in the Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp.
Ridden by Tom Marquand, who was stepping in for the injured Callum Shepherd, the four-year-old had to be brave to get the better of Andrew Balding’s stalwart Coltrane.
The winner has been a great advert for Scott this season, as while he has been prolific in winning eight of his last 11 races, his first victory came off a lowly mark of 64 last September.
He was second in the Chester Cup to East India Dock, second at Royal Ascot in the Copper Horse Stakes and won the German St Leger last time out.
While Scott had won local Group Ones in Bahrain, this was his first top-level success in Europe. The win was also notable for owners Victorious Forever, a new venture between brothers Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid who had previously raced horses under their own steam.
Scott said: “It’s an amazing feeling and a very special day for me and my team at home – we’ve finally got there.
“I was on the floor as he crossed the line I have to admit and I don’t really get emotional, so that’s what it meant to me. We’ve been waiting for it for a long time and it felt like we needed it as well.
“He’s a one-off this horse, isn’t he? He started his life in low-grade handicaps, but the great thing about him is he’s got a huge heart.
“It all went to plan. He loves to race on the hip of the leader, that seems to be his happy place and Tom is riding brilliantly, but I think he had a willing partner – Tom said he could have gone round again after the line.
“We supplemented earlier in the week. Sometimes when you have horses in good form you’re able to make that decision and Shaikh Nasser just said ‘go for it’.
“It’s sort of surreal as we’ve been training for 10 years and trained loads of stakes winners, but no Group One before today, so I’m just elated to be honest.”
Immediate plans for Caballo De Mar are up in the air, with Scott adding: “He has his whole future ahead of him and he might not be done for the year. There’s a couple of dances left possibly and he’s such a unique character in that he’s so tough and durable, but we’ll see how he is and enjoy today.
“He’ll be out in the Middle East next year for races like the Red Sea Turf (in Saudi Arabia) and World Cup night (in Dubai).”
Meanwhile, Consent ran out a tremendously impressive winner of the Qatar Prix de Royallieu for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe-winning team of Sir Mark Prescott and Luke Morris.
The consistent three-year-old had finished second to William Haggas’ Santorini Star in the Park Hill at Doncaster on her last outing and the two met again and once more dominated proceedings.
While on Town Moor Morris allowed Tom Marquand a bit of rope in front on Santorini Star, this time he sat right on the front-runner’s hind quarters.
Consent did briefly look in trouble when Marquand tried to steal a march on his rivals in the false straight, but Morris was just winding his mount up.
He pulled her away from the main chasing group and she fairly took off, leaving Santorini Star in her wake, and while the Haggas filly fended off the others, the Doncaster form was turned on its head as Consent came home with four and a half lengths in hand.
Whether she can now go on and emulate Prescott’s Alpinista, who won the Arc in 2022, remains to be seen.
Prescott, who famously rarely travels abroad, was not in Paris on this occasion and told the PA news agency: “I couldn’t really get out of it for the Arc, but I managed to get out of it today!
“With her action, we didn’t really think she wanted softer ground. She was all at sea when she ran on it at Haydock last year and that was the worry today.
“But with the benefit of hindsight, I think the ground is probably why she’s managed to turn the form around with the other filly (Santorini Star).
“I’m thrilled and she will stay in training next season. She is quite light-framed so I think we’ll race her sparingly, but it’s something to keep me going for another year!”
Morris said: “She has been brought along very steadily, which has meant she’s always kept improving a bit.
“I think it’s been masterful by Sir Mark the way he’s prepared her. Hopefully she can take another jump from this.”
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Caballo De Mar Horse Racing ParisLongchamp Winner alright