Gamrai could be given German St Leger option

George Scott could be tempted to skip the Sky Bet Ebor with new signing Gamrai in favour of sealing a German St Leger bid in September.

The Royal Ascot runner-up is as short as 8-1 with Ladbrokes for York’s prestigious handicap on August 22, but the four-year-old’s primary objective for his new connections is a trip to the Middle East for the newly-created Bahrain Long Distance Cup in November.

A late summer trip to the Knavesmire has not been ruled out by the Eve Lodge handler, but he does have an eye on a trip to Dusseldorf for the Group Three event he has won with stable favourites Prydwen (2024) and Caballo De Mar (2025) the past two years.

Scott said: “The Ebor is there on the table for him, but it could be a big ask for a horse to switch stable and then go for a race like that. But then again there is some magnificent prize-money, he’s towards the top of the market and there probably wouldn’t be much to lose by going for it.

“I do like the idea of the German St Leger though for him and it’s a race we’ve won a couple of times and is always an enjoyable experience.

“After that he will go to Bahrain for their new staying race which is kind of why we have bought him. The prize-money for it is great and I would hope we can turn up there with a sensible rating and have a good go.”

Gamrai is the latest to switch mid-season to Scott having been snapped up by the ambitious Victorious Forever operation.

Previously with John and Thady Gosden, he won Kempton’s Roseberry Handicap on his first outing this term before knocking on the door at both the Guineas meeting and in the Copper Horse at the Royal meeting.

Scott added: “He doesn’t look like a horse who takes much training and Thady, who is a great friend of mine has been particularly helpful with him. It’s always daunting getting one off the Gosdens, I’ve always looked up to John as the best trainer in the country and if we can just maintain his level of form we will be doing fine.”

“The Gosdens seemed to have him worked out pretty well and we’ll just try to keep him on a similar trajectory.”

Meanwhile, there will be no Qatar Goodwood Festival for the exciting Efsixteen, with Scott also waiting for York’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes to relaunch the career of fellow talented youngster Mrair.

“Efsixteen has met a tiny setback which is really upsetting as she was training beautifully,” said Scott.

“She’s going to probably reappear in the St Hugh’s and she’s a filly we really like.”

The Victorious-owned pair commanded six-figure fees at the spring breeze-up sales, Efsixteen bringing the hammer down at 350,000 guineas, while Mrair required even deeper pockets, with an £880,000 cheque being signed.

The latter was eighth in the Coventry Stakes and Scott added: “I thought Mrair would really benefit for a bit of down time after Ascot and now he’s back cantering and we’ll look at the Gimcrack for him.

“Both horses breezed then raced quickly and so they have had a lot of training despite only racing a few times. Both are big, scopey horses who will go forward.”