A FORMER Royal Ascot favourite who cost £240,000 has left William Haggas’ yard.
Owners Victorious Racing have switched the hugely promising but frustrating Saber Strike to George Scott.
Saber Strike, who won his first two races and was backed into 11-10 favourite for the Jersey Stakes but finished a well-beaten sixth, has now been gelded.
He will form part of Scott’s new Dubai team – after it was announced the Flat handler will have a satellite yard in the Middle East.
Scott has enjoyed a huge year in Britain, highlighted by Bay City Roller’s convincing Coronation Cup win at Epsom.
Victorious Racing, who have acquired ex-James Owen runner Wimbledon Hawkeye and John & Thady Gosden’s former Copper Horse handicap runner-up Gamrai, have placed their faith in Scott.
He will base a number of horses in Dubai over the winter, saying it was ‘the right time to expand our operation’.
Scott – who started out mucking stables for Paul Nicholls – has had success in the region before, notably with Isle of Jura landing the Bahrain Triple Crown.
Victorious Racing, owned by the Bahraini Royal family, bought Saber Strike at the Tatts October Book 1 sale for yearlings in October 2024.
He looked a future superstar when seeing off Godolphin’s Cerro Blanco in the Listed King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket in May this year.
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Though clearly talented, he disappointed at the Royal meeting and has form figures of 3-4-2 since.
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