George Scott is eagerly anticipating the future with Phantom Flight as he prepares for the Coral Glorious Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday.
The five-year-old was acquired earlier this month by Victorious Racing, which also has Isle Of Jura, Mission Command, Seven Questions, and Rocket Rodney in training with the Newmarket-based handler. He was promptly placed in Scott's care.
Phantom Flight made an impressive debut for his new stable, winning the Listed Steventon Stakes at Newbury at 16-1 under Callum Shepherd, marking his first outing after being gelded and nearly a year on the sidelines.
Scott’s excitement was tinged with disappointment, however, as his stable star Isle Of Jura has been ruled out for the remainder of the season following a standout victory in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Compounding the situation, he watched Goliath, who finished second in that race, deliver a stunning performance to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes back at Newbury over the weekend.
Looking ahead, Scott is keen to see what Phantom Flight can achieve, especially with an entry in next month’s Ebor and the prospect of a winter campaign in Bahrain. This pathway mirrors Isle of Jura's successful season last year, where he captured the Bahrain Triple Crown before returning to win the Listed Festival Stakes at Goodwood and ultimately triumphing at Ascot, making it five wins out of five in 2024.
Scott commented: “We’re really looking forward to running him. He came out of Newbury in excellent shape. Of course, he’s stepping up to a mile and a half, which is somewhat unfamiliar territory for him. We believe he’s going to be a significant asset to our team, both this season and, more importantly, in Bahrain this winter. He’s an incredibly exciting horse, especially with Isle of Jura currently sidelined.”