Doncaster report: Encore D'Or breaks through for Scarbrough success
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Encore D'Or picked up the pieces late on to win his first race on turf in the Pepsi Max Scarbrough Stakes at Doncaster.
Robert Cowell's five-year-old has a good strike-rate having won six of his 23 career starts, but all his previous successes had been on the all-weather.
With Ryan Moore content to sit some way off the fast pace Frankie Dettori set on Thesme, the complexion of the race changed with two furlongs to run.
The favourite Final Venture never looked like rewarding the faith but it was Clive Cox's Razzmatazz, previously just a maiden winner, who briefly looked like scoring. Deep inside the final furlong, though, Encore D'Or (13-2) picked up well to win going away by a length.
Cowell's assistant Greg Chung said: "I'm absolutely delighted. I'm not sure how competitive it was, but it worked out well and he got a nice tow into the race.
Encore D'Or
"Ryan spoke to Robert earlier and they decided on their strategy and Ryan did everything that he said he was going to do, so it worked out well today."
Cox was delighted with the performance of the runner-up Razzmatazz, and also saddled the third home Go On Go On Go On.
"I'm over the moon - the pair of them have managed to pick up some black type, which makes them very valuable," said the Lambourn-based trainer.
"Razzmatazz has had a busy 10 days after winning at Kempton last week, and the other filly has run a great race as well.
"We'll see how they come out of it before making any plans. The second filly could run again as she's proved today she goes on softer ground. The third definitely prefers quicker ground, which makes her performance today all the more creditable."
Shabaaby continued his progression with a thoroughly impressive display in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Conditions Stakes.
The Owen Burrows-trained juvenile was third behind high-class filly Nyaleti on his racecourse debut at Salisbury in June and confirmed that promise with a dominant success at Newmarket last month.
With Demons Rock the 6-4 favourite to secure a fifth consecutive victory, Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shabaaby was second best in the market at 13-8, but the result was scarcely in doubt.
Champion jockey Jim Crowley settled his mount in behind Beatbox Rhythm for much of the six-furlong journey and once given his head, Shabaaby shot clear to score by seven lengths.
John Kirkup came through to beat Beatbox Rhythm to the runner-up spot, while Demons Rock was a bitterly disappointing last of four runners.
Burrows said: "He's done that very nicely and he's improving with every run, which is great.
"He's a very straightforward horse. He settles well and when you pull him out, he's got a fair amount of gears.
"Originally we mentioned that might be it for the season. He's proved he handles plenty of cut in the ground. I'll have a chat with the team, they're back from Keeneland tomorrow and we'll see."
Nobleman's Nest got back on the winning trail in the Owlerton Greyhound Stadium Nursery.
Beaten just a nose into second place on his introduction here in July, the son of Poet's Voice readily went one better at Newmarket next time, but last month's Gimcrack at York proved a bridge too far.
Dropping into handicap company, Simon Crisford's colt was the 5-2 market leader under Silvestre de Sousa and comfortably put his rivals to bed with a length-and-a-half verdict. Crownthorpe was a clear runner-up ahead of Placebo Effect in third.
"York was a massive disappointment and we couldn't work out why he ran so badly," said Crisford.
"He only ran for two furlongs and I don't know what happened there. We came here still with lots of belief in him and fancied him to win, and he did.
"He travelled well, put that race to bed very quickly and he's a nice, straightforward and uncomplicated colt.
"We might find a Listed race somewhere, we'll see how much he goes up in the ratings. There might be another nursery in him yet, you never know."
Related posts
Sky Bet Sunday Series tips: Angus McNae likes a 12-1 chance
Racing TV French Champion Hurdle: Losange Bleu regains crown
Five horses to follow from our experts on Saturday
Racing TV French Champion Hurdle: runner-by-runner guide and tip
Watch: Aidan O'Brien Stable Tour
Featured offers
Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets with Betano
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets + Money back 2nd to SP fav with BOYLE Sports
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets in Multis with Betfair
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 & Get £30 in free bets with bet365
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with Kwiff
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved