George Scott has decided to miss the Goodwood Cup with Caballo De Mar after a gruelling Ascot Gold Cup.
The Phoenix Of Spain gelding emptied markedly at Ascot after an initially strong showing. The race threw up an almighty battle between Scandinavia and Trawlerman, but Scott is happy to let that pair fight it out once more at Goodwood.
Speaking to the Press Association, via At The Races, Scott said: “I won’t go to Goodwood with him. As I see him as a horse who is going to be very busy once we head into the autumn.
“We’ll let Scandinavia and Trawlerman go to war again at Goodwood and maybe come back for York. With really the Doncaster Cup, Cadran and the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day as his main races. He’ll have a quiet summer now ahead of the autumn.”
The five-year-old had his coming of age performance in the Cadran last season, beating Coltrane by a length and three-quarters.
Scott warned punters thinking of parting with their cash on him next time out however, stating: “I would be issuing a bit of a warning for his first run back. We might ride him a bit differently and allow him to find his rhythm. But he’ll be back into his groove after that.
“When a horse has as tough a race as he did at Ascot. You are looking for that next race to be enjoyable for him. So it’s an obvious choice to miss Goodwood and head to York.”
Scott proud of Gold Cup effort despite alarming final furlong
Caballo De Mar’s rise to staying success at the top level has been nothing short of remarkable. He began life in handicaps off a mark of 65, beaten into third in a class six at Windsor. Six wins in handicaps later, he rapidly developed into a group level stayer.
It wasn’t to be for him in the Gold Cup however, but reflecting on the race, Scott said: “He’s absolutely fine now. There were a variety of components that led to that final furlong being pretty desperate for him.
“I thought the draw was OK for him but Oisin was right and it proved a big factor. He couldn’t get into his favoured position. By the time he did get there he had already run his race to be honest.
“Maybe next year we only give him one run leading into the Gold Cup rather than two. But fundamentally it was a phenomenal horse race. He was in there in the heat of it mixing it with some quality horses for the most of it.”