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| Staff Writer |
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Newmarket, an equine haven steeped in racing history, is where George Scott calls home for his training stables. A beautiful area of the country to live and train horses, Newmarket has been for many years the largest training and breeding centre in Britain, and it is steeped in history and home to two top-class racecourses, The Rowley Mile and The July Course, and also the home of The National Stud.
"We have a variety of training surfaces and ample grass areas, ideal for young horses," Scott explains. His quiet location in Hamilton Road, with the well-equipped Eve Lodge Stables, further enhances his training environment.
Scott's career path has been graced by collaborations with legends like Paul Nicholls and Michael Bell. From Nicholls, he admires the relentless pursuit of improvement, even at the pinnacle of success. Bell, on the other hand, offered invaluable lessons in managing a yard and creating a positive ownership experience, a crucial aspect of the business. These influential encounters have shaped Scott's own approach to training, where dedication, adaptability, and a focus on both horses and owners seem to be the winning formula.
Known as an excellent trainer of 2YOs, Scott indicates that he changed the buying process two to three years ago as it was evident that they were not buying the right types to provide 2YO winners.
“We changed the buying model for 2YOs, looking for speedier more precocious types, the racing world is changing, there is a high demand for action at two and we just weren't catering for that. I have a philosophy in that I believe more in educating them at that age rather than being hard on them in training and we have trained some multiple winners adopting this approach. I don't believe I just specialise with the youngsters; we have some good stats with the older horses too!”
Recent successes in Bahrain have seen Scott's profile raised in the Middle East and listening to him discuss his winners you can see why he travels them abroad. "The prizemoney is amazing, and the Bahrain Turf Club with their Bahrain Turf Series afford us some great opportunities and they offer great subsidies to get our runners there. The world is a smaller place, and now that the logistics of travel are easier, and I have a great assistant and team who travel the horses, we can go anywhere. We have a strict programme when we go abroad which includes giving the horses antibiotics and we give them an easy time when they land so as not to shock their systems."
Isle Of Jura and Rocket Rodney have been flagships for the stable out in Bahrain, Scott says that in the case of the former, the fast ground and step up in trip suited him. "He is a big, tall horse and the quicker conditions and ten furlongs were certainly in his favour.
“He then backed it up with an excellent second behind Lucander when he ran on strongly from a long way back. Rocket Rodney is different as he didn't acclimatise as well at first, but he improved more than Isle Of Jura from his first run to second. Isle Of Jura needs more work and needs longer exercise and trains on the main track working on the grass where he thrives. Rocket Rodney has the odd day off and his exercise is shorter and more about speed work, and looking at his races, we made a conscious decision in his next race to let him pass horses when he came under pressure which he loved, and it paid off.
“We use equimetre to collect data which I’m becoming increasingly more committed to. A basic starting point is the fractions. You can back up what you’ve seen with your eyes against the clock. Cadence is a great indicator on trip. Recovery taken at three stages after work and trot symmetry are also helpful,” said Scott.
He also believes an athlete’s diet is paramount and advocates keeping an eye on new products while acknowledging the importance of sticking with a proven system.
“Nutrition is really important and very keen on various supplements. And we've had a lot of success with a particular brand of feed since we switched. We tend to keep an eye on the market and see if any new products are coming out to go alongside what we're using at the moment. Of course, I think once you have a system that works, it's a feeding system that works. You know, it's unwise to be chasing to be wanting to change it the whole time.”
In essence, he prioritises live scientific data and effective nutrition while keeping an open-mind towards future advancements.
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Scott feels that his successful partnership with owner HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa has fueled recent victories.
"Shaikh Nasser is a world class horseman in his own right and a champion endurance rider, so he has a huge amount of equine knowledge to impart. We keep him fully informed, and he also has plenty of ideas of his own. He’s mostly interested in the science (of improving performance) and other finer details. However, he also enjoys seeing the horses work. We have the foundation for a great long-term relationship. He trusts me to do the best I can for every horse. It’s fair to say he’s responsible for our significant upturn over the last couple of years.”
Isle Of Jura, having proven his mettle, will now target the Crown Prince Cup and King's Cup (in Bahrain) before resting and rejoining for a domestic (UK) campaign with Royal Ascot aspirations. Rocket Rodney, meanwhile, climbs the ladder after his win, eyeing series races and potentially the Wokingham at 6 furlongs.
He told Ten Furlongs Magazine that he was delighted with Bahrain and its Turf Series, praising the excellent conditions and generous prizemoney.
“I am looking forward to coming back in February for the Crown Prince Cup and bringing the family with me. Having the higher profile owners Victorious Racing, Shaikh Nasser and Amo Racing is great for the profile of the yard, I don't feel more pressure, and all owners are treated the same, the difference is that they have greater spending power, and that gives us a better chance of better horses to hopefully take us to the next level.”
With Isle Of Jura and Rocket Rodney primed for further success, the talented trainer’s winning trail looks set to continue in both Bahrain and beyond.
Delving into the strengths and future plans for three of his current stars he says, “Seven Questions was a warrior of a 2YO and was a bit unlucky on occasions. He will run in Dubai and will be aimed at the 3YO sprints, he is not straightforward, so we need to go one race at a time. Captain Kane was the winning most horse in the UK and Ireland in 2022, quite a feat and a testament to a strong team of staff at home, to be able to keep him in form. Winners at all levels are important as this is a win-and-lose business and you are ultimately judged on those statistics. Prydwen is a lovely staying type for Blue Star Racing who have been very loyal to me, bought for a sensible budget he will hopefully continue to improve.”
Beyond individual horses, Scott opens up about his preferred jockey strategy. He favors a pool of four or five riders who not only compete but also actively participate in the horses' training, fostering a closer connection and better communication. This commitment to loyalty stands in contrast to the "best available" approach, a testament to his belief in fostering stable, collaborative relationships within his team. By investing in both horses and riders, Scott creates a supportive environment that fosters success for all involved.
These two perspectives offer a glimpse into the philosophy and methods of this international trainer. His attention to detail, focus on individual horses, and commitment to building strong partnerships within his team paint a picture of a dedicated and meticulous professional who prioritizes both results and relationships in his pursuit of equestrian excellence.
“They know that if they are committed to a horse, they will get the chance to ride that horse during the campaign. They know that I am loyal”.
In the end, Scott candidly shared a couple of hidden gems to watch this season. He named Watch My Tracer, a 3YO showing physical improvement and promising potential, as a dark horse to keep an eye on. Jailbird, a low-grade filly with three runs under her belt, also caught his eye as a potentially well-handicapped contender.
Despite some practical challenges like staff shortages, the thrill of daily competition and the satisfaction of training winners remain Scott’s ultimate rewards.
“Of course, I love the way of life of training, it suits having a young family and despite some problems which are frustrating, like difficulty in getting staff, the rewards outweigh those,” he says.
Scott holds a firm belief in British racing's future, highlighting its world-class breeding stock and recent exciting incentive programs and sees no reason why British racing can't reclaim its past glory once again.
By Steve Taylor