George Scott is hoping a change of headgear can spark life back into his star stayer Caballo De Mar following a pair of disappointing efforts.
The Phoenix Of Spain gelding has been a revelation, beginning life in handicaps off a mark of 65 in 2024. It wasn’t until stepping up to middle distances he blossomed, and last season he amassed form figures of 1112128117.
After landing the Group 1 Prix du Cadran, handicaps were evidently a distant memory. That was no fluke, as this year he took the Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in May. However, he blew up alarmingly in the Ascot Gold Cup, showing signs of post-race heat stress.
Scott gave him plenty of time off after, but he failed to justify favouritism down in class at York. The jury is out regarding whether Ascot will have lasting effects on him, but Scott suggests he retains his ability.
Caballo De Mar down but not out, remarks Scott
Speaking on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, via Sporting Life, George Scott said: “For me he’s like a boxer, he’s got his chin hanging out and we’re there with the white towel. He’s not saying for one minute he wants a break.
“He was disappointing on the face of it at York. I don’t want to keep making excuses but they went a real good gallop. He was in the heat of the race a long way.
“I was going to go the Prix Gladiatuer tomorrow. But when these racecourses and sponsors stump up this money it’s hard to turn away from a race like that.”
Caballo De Mar has worn cheek-pieces in all but four of his 24 starts. Scott turns his attention to a new form of headgear, hoping to provide the required spark he’s seemingly lost.
Scott continued: “He’s giving me all the right signs at home, he’s going to have some blinkers and a tongue-tie on. I’ve checked his wind out but there’s nothing significant.
“I’ve just got a gut feeling a change of apparatus might help him. He’s a short-priced favourite but, ridiculously, he has it all to prove again.”
Also wearing blinkers is Queenstown, who returned to action with a four length win over Ascot Stakes winner Kizylar. Queenstown was three lengths behind Caballo De Mar in the Prix du Cadran, and it’ll be a fascinating rematch should they both run to their best form.