George Scott to set up 20-box base in Dubai

George Scott is set to expand his presence in the Middle East over the winter with a 20-box barn in Dubai.

The Eve Lodge handler has been no stranger to success in the Gulf peninsula with West Acre a leading sprinter in the region and Isle Of Jura famously securing the Bahrain Triple Crown before going on to give Scott his first Royal Ascot success later in the year, the culmination of a fine five-race winning run.

Scott’s team for Meydan is likely to feature many notable names for leading owners Victorious Forever, including Irish Champion Stakes possible Wimbledon Hawkyeye, as well as new recruit to the yard Saber Strike, with the Newmarket handler expecting to be in position in his winter base from mid-November.

Scott said: “We are really excited to be stepping up our commitment to racing in Dubai and across the Middle East.

“It feels like the right time to expand the operation internationally off the back of a series of fruitful winter campaigns in the region.

“We’re planning to take a team to target racing at all levels across Dubai. The Dubai Racing Club programme offers a huge amount of opportunity for different types of horses.

“We’ve already identified a number of horses to take, but we’ll also be looking to strengthen the team at Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale and privately.”

Scott’s Meydan operation will also target races at neighbouring Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Jebel Ali, while a separate team will head as usual to Bahrain over the winter months.