Goodwood an option for Gold Cup also-ran Caballo De Mar

George Scott knew Caballo De Mar’s fate from an early stage in last week’s Gold Cup.

The dual Group One winner was still in there pitching with half a mile to run but ended up finishing last of the 11 runners once Oisin Murphy knew his race was run.

Scott admitted the race proved “horrible” for the five-year-old, however, he has some grand plans for later in the season.

Caballo De Mar could even line up as early as next month at Glorious Goodwood if the Newmarket trainer’s stalwart returns in rude health following last week’s bruising performance.

“He’s absolutely fine, he just left it all out there,” Scott said. “He’s all good, he had a horrible race, from that draw there was no inch given to him.

“He couldn’t get a position, he had to use a lot up the straight to get in position and when he came past the stands for the first time, I turned to Billy Jackson-Stops (racing manager to owners Victorious Forever) and said ‘it’s done’. I think most horses would have pulled up half a mile out.

“The Goodwood Cup could fit for him, but he will not race on watered summer ground again this year.

“I think it will be more Doncaster Cup, Prix du Cadran and then Champions Day. Possibly Goodwood Cup, but it wouldn’t worry me if you didn’t see him until September. We’ll see.

“He loves his racing, but you don’t know what marks have been left on him after the Gold Cup. It was a horrible race for him.

“He hasn’t been ridden since and once he starts bucking and kicking, he’ll move back into normal training.”