George Scott: Stepping Up to the Next Level

Having spent four flourishing years at Saffron House Stables, George Scott has recently moved just a few hundred yards to Eve Lodge Stables Newmarket. This is a sign in itself that George is stepping up to the next level. 

I have no doubt he will after yet another consistent season in 2019. 

George, how long have you been involved in horse racing? 

Since I left School in 2008 I went straight to work for Paul Nicholls and then progressed through from Mark Tompkins to Michael Bell then did a stint in America then worked for Lady Cecil at Warren Place and then started training horses four years ago. 

If you weren't a trainer what would you have done?

I quite enjoy the idea of working in the city, a couple of my best mates work as traders and the excitement and energy they put in look fun although the reality is I would hate it. My father is a farmer, again it would be a nice idea to go farming but there's no competitiveness being a farmer and that's what we enjoy most, tough question but would probably go to the city.

Do you feel a lot of pressure training horses or is it a relaxed career that you enjoy all the time? 

Definitely, feel pressure when the horses are running badly and the bills are a bit tight but generally really enjoy it, overall it's a fantastic life but really only when the horses are running well and the owners are happy. 

If you could train any horse in history who would it be and why? 

I would probably train American Pharoah in America to win the Triple Crown, I thought he was an incredible horse, and I was at Belmont when he won the third leg of his Triple Crown which was really amazing and it was an amazing event, he looks like he's going to be a fantastic stallion as well. 

Do you have a favourite horse in the yard? 

My favourite horse in the yard would probably be Moll Davis who is a filly we are looking forward to seeing next year and she's definitely one of my favourites and we have an old lead horse called Phosphorescence who has been with us since day one and he would be another one of my favourites for different reasons. 

What's been the highlight of your career so far? 

Definitely running in the Breeders Cup. It was a fantastic occasion even though we didn't get much luck in running but James Garfield overall has been my career highlight - him winning the Mill Reef but ending up in the Breeders Cup was pretty exciting. 

A typical day in the life of George Scott? 

Get up at 5.50 a.m. I get into work as the first lot pulls out at 7.00 a.m. We have four lots in the morning and finish at 12.30. Then I go home have lunch, generally, have a sleep, come back for evening stables or go racing. 

I finish work at 6 or go racing. Then there's a lot of time on the phone in between sending messages to owners or talking to owners or sending pictures, then looking at form, so it's pretty busy inside and outside the yard. 

If you could win any race before you retired, what would it be and why? 

Definitely be the Derby, it's an iconic race not only in this country but around the world. I don't think any race in this country gets near to the significance and prestige of the Derby, so I would love to win the Derby. 

How is James Garfield? 

He's good, he got a nice amount of mares in his first cover around 85, and they are very happy with him he's very fertile, and we are looking forward to training some of his progeny. 

See, James Garfield's racecourse results. 

[Craig] I love watching the 2-year-olds progress over the year. 

It's early days but do you have a nice bunch for next season and hopefully another James Garfield? 

Yes, we have a really nice bunch of yearlings this year we have got our biggest number of yearlings, I think we have about 35 and we spent some good money at the sales. I have also been sent some nice homebred so am really optimistic about this bunch, its really early days I don't really have a stand out horse at the moment but there is a horse called Punta Arenas by Quality Road that's been given a Derby entry and is a quality animal, the sire is absolutely flying in America and he's out of a mare called Absolute Crackers who was in his low 90s for Jessica Harrington, he's got a nice pedigree and I like that. 

What do you do to relax when you get the time? 

I like to go and have lunch or dinner with friends and my wife and love all sports so watch a lot of sports, football, rugby, cricket anything. 

Any nice horses for next season or on the all-weather over the winter that my readers can follow?

Earth And Sky has been pretty consistent and has already won a couple of races this year and can continue to progress and Lyndon B is going to Dubai and is really well after giving him a break after winning at Sandown I think he could be a really competitive horse. 

Thanks to George Scott for his time and good luck for the future.

Visit George Scott's website.

Twitter: @georgeoscott

Facebook Page

👀 Take a moment to have a look round our fantastic new home Eve Lodge. With an indoor ride, treadmill, turnout and staff accommodation we have lots to look forward to in 2020. pic.twitter.com/ZBOwFCSyVk

— George Scott (@georgeoscott) November 3, 2019

Photographs: 

1) George Scott Breeders' Cup 2017 
2) Jame Garfield

Make My Day, Punk (Plus Preview & Tips) 27th April)

Previews: 

1.30 Haydock: 

Play 4 to Score At Betway Novice Stakes (Plus 10) (Class3) (3YO only.

It could be a nice day on Saturday for owners John and Tanya Gunther and trainer John Gosden. Make My Day makes his debut for the successful team and I will be watching with interest to see if this son of Galileo can at least make a pleasing debut, being by Galileo I would imagine the trip and ground will suit just fine. 

Owners John and Tanya have two horses with John Gosden the first being the top class Without Parole (Pictured) out of the mighty Frankel, who’s won a list of Group races in what has been a great career so far, and they also have She’s Got You who is another potentially good horse, finishing second on debut and then going on to win by seven lengths on her next start. 

3.15 Fillies Novice Stakes (Class5) (3YO only)

Thanks Be for Charlie Fellows ran twice as a 2-year-old finishing 5th both times, interesting she had a Group 2 Rockfel stakes entry last season. 

5.45 Doncaster: Maiden Stakes (Class 5) (2YO only)

Ocasio Cortez had a Class 2 entry the other week but runs here instead for trainer Richard Hannon and owner Mr K Sohi, worth a market check. 

6.15 Maiden Stakes (Class 4) (3YO Plus) 

Lyndon B runs for the George Scott stable, he had two runs as a 2-year-old and was fancied both starts, showing promise despite running green. I haven't given up on this Charm Spirit gelding as he was entered in a Listed race sometime last year. 

4.35 Ripon: Novice Stakes (Class 4) (3YO only) 

Sky Cross is another horse I hope starts his 3-year-old career with a win. This Cape Cross colt, trained by Mark Johnston and owned by Mr Jaber Abdullah ran twice as a 2-year-old, winning the second time of asking at 5/2 favourite but the interesting thing for me is he was entered in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes and the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes but didn't run in both. 

Review:I mentioned the Gosden trained King of Comedy last week on my blog and even though he was no price to bet, he looks a horse to follow after an impressive performance at Yarmouth, staying on strongly after a ding-dong battle with the S Bin Suroor trained Land of Legends who ran a great debut race, the pair pulling 8-lengths clear from the third placed Edarrat. 

The Saturday Trixie:Battle of the tipsters(well not sure we can call ourselves tipsters to be honest), It works as follows, three of us pick a selection each week and write a few lines on why we fancy it, then I will do an update each week to see who has made the most profit or who is simply the worst tipster out of us, I will also do a small stake Trixie each week. The 

Tipsters:

Sam: Horse racing enthusiast. 
Aaron: Horse racing know it all. 
Craig: Love flat racing, Maiden or Novice Stakes. 

Week 1 

Craig: 4.35 Ripon - Sky Cross. As I stated above he had some nice entries last year and hopefully strengthened up over the winter, he looks a typical Mark Johnston front runner and I just hope stepping up in trip won’t be a step too far for this Cape Cross Colt. 

Sam: 4:10 Sandown - Black Op. The 3rd run back over hurdles. Ran ok on the first run back over hurdles before flopping at the festival but the ease in grade and trip should suit and should go very close. 

Aaron: Black Corton - 2:25 Sandown, comes into this after a string of 2nds, but won 2 Grade 1’s last season, needs to jump more fluently than he did at Kelso last time, but he’s got Bryony in the saddle who’s just back from injury, they both get on well with each other, should be thereabouts. 

Let the battle begin and good luck boys. 

Thanks for reading