BRITISH TRAINER GEORGE SCOTT RIDING ON A HIGH IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Newmarket-based trainer George Scott had an impressive season in Bahrain in 2024 when ISLE OF JURA (GB) scored three wins in a row to claim the Bahraini Triple Crown for HH Sheikh Nasser Al Khalifa’s Victorious Racing. This success, coupled with the gelding’s emphatic victory on home turf at Royal Ascot a few months later, demonstrated how talented the young trainer is.
Scott was one of 48 British trainers to win Group races in 2024, showing the strength in the depth of the British training ranks. His success in Bahrain has continued this season, with a brilliant performance from PHANTOM FLIGHT (GB) who won The Crown Prince Cup, the first leg of the Bahraini Triple Crown, and looks in a strong position to emulate Isle Of Jura.
Scott spoke to Great British Racing International about his remarkable recent form in the Gulf:
“Phantom Flight has gone from strength to strength physically and mentally in Bahrain. He’s thrived there and has taken a big step forward on his last start. I am very much looking forward to HH Sheikh Nasser’s Cup in a few weeks’ time and then The King’s Cup. Hopefully he can follow Isle Of Jura!
“I’ve loved my season in Bahrain, it’s been an incredible success so far, all credit goes to my staff out there and my owners Sheikh Nasser and the City House boys. Those horses have been selected for that purpose and it has gone well so far.”
Scott has also enjoyed Group race honours in Dubai, with WEST ACRE triumphing in the Group 2 Blue Point Sprint. The three-year-old gelding looks a strong contender on Super Saturday and if he runs well could secure his spot on the highly anticipated Dubai World Cup card.
When asked about West Acre, the trainer added:
“West Acre has always been a horse that we held in very high regard at home. It’s been well documented that he picked up an injury in the spring last year which meant he could not have a conventional two-year-old campaign. Last time he gave us one of those moments that rarely happens on the racetrack, he really impressed me with his turn of foot.
“He will go to Super Saturday now and then onto the Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night all being well. He’s shown a liking to the track at Meydan and we are all hoping he can repeat that performance again, because if he does, he will be a Group 1 sprinter. We will then consider long term plans for him but the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes over five furlongs (1000m) at Royal Ascot is in the picture.”
PRYDWEN is another exciting prospect that Scott has campaigned in Dubai this season. The seven-year-old gelding who won the German St Leger last year finished fourth in Group 3 company on his last outing at Meydan, beaten by only a length. He will now head to Saudi Arabia to line up in the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap on Saturday 22nd February.
On Prydwen and his Saudi Cup target, Scott said:
“Prydwen took a little time to acclimatise to life in the Middle East and I was much happier with him going into his second race. He’s come forward again for that run and I am looking forward to the Red Sea Turf. It will be my first runner in Saudi, something that I’ve always wanted to do. We are under no illusions as to how difficult a race it will be but he should enjoy the conditions and the trip. It will be an interesting first runner for us and hopefully we will spend more time there in the future.”