By Tom Frary
Aidan O'Brien already has Lambourn for the St Leger, but judged by the way Scandinavia went through Thursday's G3 Bahrain Trophy plans for the Doncaster Classic could yet evolve. Storming to an 8 1/2-length success in the July Festival's 13-furlong opener, the son of Justify who was making a big leap from the Queen's Vase is seen as a key staying prospect by connections.
“We could have some fun with him over those longer distances now,” Paul Smith said of the heavily-supported 11-8 favourite. “He seems to be progressing nicely and bounced out of Royal Ascot, where he was out wide for a long way. Ryan said he's uncomplicated and enjoyed the [fast] ground and he could maybe be a Cup horse for next year. We can plot our way towards those staying races later in the year.”
Beaten only a length and a half when fifth at Royal Ascot, the half-brother to American Pharoah's G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Above The Curve was sent to the front by Ryan Moore approaching the three-furlong pole and surged to the line. While his rivals produced pedestrian fractions over the final two furlongs of this stamina test, the winner who only broke his maiden at Navan in May posted impressive closing sectionals of 11.68 and 12.42 as Nightime Dancer (Ghaiyyath) followed in his wake.
While the dual Derby winner Lambourn holds pole position for the Doncaster Classic at present, the King George has also been mooted and Smith confirmed that connections are keen to play the waiting game. “There are lots of options open and I think we'll see how these horses get on over the festivals as after here we've got Goodwood and York coming up,” he added. “He's in the mix for all those top races.”
Different league!
Scandinavia runs out a fine winner of the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien@BahrainTurfClub | @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/up0rrXEG1m
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 10, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Scandinavia is the sixth foal out of the unraced Fabulous (Galileo), a daughter of the renowned Mariah's Storm (Rahy) who needs no introduction as the dam of the stable's Iron Horse Giant's Causeway. His full-sister You'resothrilling also came to this meeting to win the G2 Cherry Hinton Stakes before going on to establish herself as one of Coolmore's leading broodmares.
Producing top-class progeny of Galileo year upon year, she was responsible for the Classic winners Gleneagles, Marvellous and Joan Of Arc, as well as the fellow Group 1 performers Happily, Taj Mahal, Coolmore and Toy. Another of Mariah's Storm's daughters, another Galileo in Butterflies, is responsible for War Front's G2 Balanchine Stakes runner-up Yet who is the dam of the yard's juvenile sensation Albert Einstein (Wootton Bassett).
Also connected to Galileo's Irish Champion-winning sire Decorated Knight, Fabulous who along with the aforementioned Above The Curve is also responsible for another smart daughter of American Pharoah in the dual Group 3-placed Thinking Of You has a yearling colt by No Nay Never to come.
Thursday, Newmarket, Britain
BAHRAIN TROPHY STAKES-G3, £200,000, Newmarket, 7-10, 3yo, 13fT, 2:42.30, g/f.
1–SCANDINAVIA, 129, c, 3, by Justify
1st Dam: Fabulous (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mariah's Storm, by Rahy
3rd Dam: Immense, by Roberto
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP STAKES WIN. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £113,420. Lifetime Record: 6-2-1-1, $176,110. *1/2 to Above The Curve (American Pharoah), G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Eng, $722,180; and Thinking Of You (American Pharoah), MGSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Nightime Dancer (Ire), 129, c, 3, Ghaiyyath (Ire)–Stella D'Italia (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (110,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE). O-Stall Perlen AB; B-GCE Farm Ltd; T-Richard Hannon. £43,000.
3–Hallelujah U (GB), 129, c, 3, Pinatubo (Ire)–Whazzat (GB), by Daylami (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-The Gredley Family; B-Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd; T-James Owen. £21,520.
Margins: 8HF, 4 1/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 1.38, 2.75, 20.00.
Also Ran: Titanium Emperor (Ire), Furthur (Ire).
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