Prydwen booked for Dubai trip after German victory

George Scott will seek international riches with 112-rated stayer.

Prydwen can look forward to further international adventures after landing the German St Leger winner in Dortmund last month.

A winner on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Newcastle on Good Friday and even tried in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, the George Scott-trained six-year-old has shot up to a mark of 112 after his most recent success, which has restricted his options domestically and now a winter in the Middle East is on the cards for the son of Camelot.

“He’s really good, obviously off his new inflated rating there is little else left for him here in England, so he’s going to go to Dubai and maybe the Red Sea Handicap in Saudi Arabia,” said Scott, for whom Prydwen was a first runner and winner in Ireland when he took a valuable handicap at Killarney in August.

“I think he probably comes up short in those strong Group races in England, so it’s a matter of thinking outside of the box a little bit, although Dubai is hardly outside of the box.”

Meanwhile, Scott will give his unbeaten two-year-old Bay City Roller the chance to prove his Derby credentials next season.

The New Bay colt has yet to taste defeat on his three career starts, starting with a gallant victory to hold off John and Thady Gosden’s Vecu by a neck on debut at Sandown in July.

He followed that with a more comfortable three-quarter-length success on the all-weather at Chelmsford in August before heading to Town Moor for the Group Two Champagne Stakes on St Leger Day.

Bay City Roller hit the front inside the final furlong and despite a challenge from Aidan O’Brien’s Monumental, Callum Shepherd steered his mount to a half-length triumph to catapult the Victorious Racing-owned youngster into the equation for top-tier contests.

A return to Doncaster for the Futurity Trophy was an option, but connections have opted to head into winter quarters.

“He’s really good, he’s finished for the year. I felt like he’s done enough for this season, he’s a horse for next year,” Scott said.

“It’s early days as to where we will start next season, but we definitely want to give him an opportunity to be a Derby horse. We want to try that first.

“Wherever he starts back, it could be in the Guineas or a Guineas trial, we will see. We will probably see what the spring brings, but very excited by him.

“(It’s) that time of year as well, it’s nice for his profile to go home as an unbeaten two-year-old and he’s got a really exciting year ahead of him next year.”

Scott also provided an update on stable star Isle Of Jura, who suffered a setback after winning the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Isle Of Jura wins the 2024 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot
Isle Of Jura has not been seen since winning the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

The four-year-old was enjoying a stellar campaign which began in Bahrain, taking home large prize money when landing the country’s triple crown at the beginning of the year before returning to British shores to land the Listed Festival Stakes at Goodwood in May.

The son of New Approach secured the biggest victory of his career at Ascot – his fifth successive triumph – a month later, but he has been on the sidelines since.

“He’s good. He picked up an issue after Ascot that will sadly keep him out of action,” the Eve Lodge handler said.

“Probably the earliest you could see him back is the Jockey Club at Newmarket in the Craven meeting, but it’s not impossible that he will go straight to the Hardwicke. We will see.

“It’s a long way away. His rehab is going really well and if we get a clear run with him, then there shouldn’t be any repercussions of that issue.

“He’s only a young horse in the grand scheme of things. He’s only had one real year of racing so he’s got his whole future ahead of him, but we are keen to make sure we gave him all the time he needs.”

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