Bowling Green International Scouting Report: Fort George

In the form of his life at the Dubai Carnival, where he briefly challenged Rebel’s Romance, Fort George resumes from a freshening in Saturday’s Bowling Green (G2) at Saratoga.

British trainer Ed Walker always planned more international ventures for the upwardly mobile four-year-old, who has the right profile for U.S. conditions. 

“He’s a very tough horse, very genuine,” Walker told NYRA publicity. “I think he’s improving. He’s a tall, leggy horse. He was very backwards at two; there wasn’t much of him, and now he’s filled his frame. He’s still narrow and gangly, but he’s improving all the time, and he’s got the right temperament for it.

“We thought with him being a Group 3 winner that life might be a bit tough at the highest level here. So, we thought we’d explore options abroad and hunt around for prize money.

“I think the style of racing there will suit him. He likes a good, strong tempo, so we’ll see.

“The plan is to stick around for a bit if all goes well. We’d love to have a crack at the Christophe Clement (G1),” Walker added regarding the Aug. 15 “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). “That’s the dream, but one step at a time.”

Fort George’s pedigree and background

Walker might not be a household name to U.S. fans, but he tends to do well with his transatlantic forays. Although he’s yet to have a winner in North America, his runners have placed in seven of 12 starts. His most prolific campaigner here, Indian Blessing, placed in the 2018 First Lady (G1) and Athenia (G3) as well as back-to-back editions of the Ballston Spa (G2), while his globetrotting Stormy Antarctic placed in the 2018 Woodbine Mile (G1).

Ironically, Walker’s most accomplished shipper, multiple Group 1-winning European champion Dreamloper, ran well below her best in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). Another of his past pupils, Starman, ranked as Europe’s top older sprinter, and his current celebrities are Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) hero Almaqam and Ten Bob Tony, who shocked the Queen Anne (G1) at Royal Ascot. 

Fort George sports the colors of Mrs. Fitri Hay, whose major winners stateside include 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) upsetter Starlust, Khaadem, Ancient Rome, and Highland Chief; Cape Blanco and Deauville, both in partnership with Coolmore; and, more recently, with Nakatomi, co-owned with Qatar Racing. 

Fort George’s sire, Territories, was arguably underappreciated before his export to India. A well-bred son of Invincible Spirit from the family of Street Cry and Shamardal, Territories sired star sprinter Lazzat and Grade/Group 1 winner Rougir, who landed the 2022 E.P. Taylor (G1) at Woodbine.

Fort George can claim Saratoga success on his dam’s side. He’s out of a mare by Teofilo, whose leading progeny include Godolphin’s multiple Grade/Group 1 traveler Nations Pride, hero of the 2022 Saratoga Derby (G1). Fort George’s maternal relatives include Spotlight, the 2004 Lake Placid H. (G2) winner, and Idea Generation, the 2024 Flower Bowl (G2) upsetter. 

As a late-developing juvenile, Fort George raced exclusively over a mile on the all-weather in the fall of 2024. After an eye-catching debut fourth at Kempton, where he was held up in traffic but quickened well, he went close as the favorite in a pair of Newcastle novices. He was a half-length second in one, and in the other, he tried to lead throughout but was just outfinished late in third. The near-miss runner-up was Merchant, an eventual Royal Ascot and Gordon (G3) winner.

Improving in the handicap ranks at three

Gelded a few days later and given a five-month holiday, Fort George resurfaced on opening day of the 2025 Guineas Festival at Newmarket. He broke his maiden in last-to-first fashion in a mile handicap on turf. Benefiting from carrying the lightest weight, Fort George still looked green. He was outpaced early, changed his legs trying to cope with the undulations, and did his best work late up the rising ground. The runner-up, Molveno, won the Derby Italiano (G2) in his next start.

Fort George was cross-entered in the Silver Bowl at Haydock and to another mile handicap at Goodwood. Opting for Goodwood, he ended up just missing after an eventful self-imposed trip as the favorite. Fort George was off a beat slow, was rousted along at the rear under the whip, and was “struggling,” as track announcer Mark Johnson noted. But it was more mental than anything because jockey Jamie Spencer finally got him going. About a furlong from home, Fort George suddenly gained traction down the center of the course and came up a neck shy. 

Up in class and trip to 1 1/4 miles for a valuable handicap during the Glorious Goodwood Festival, Fort George traveled much better throughout for Kieran Shoemark. He found himself behind a wall of horses, got a seam, and stayed on for a clear third to Wathnan Racing’s favored Best Secret and Marhaba Ghaiyyath. 

It must be noted that Fort George was among the lighter weights, receiving 12 pounds from Best Secret. French-based Best Secret went on to beat well-regarded Gethin in a listed race at Saint-Cloud and added the May 3 Prix d’Hedouville (G3), although he most recently disappointed in the Hardwicke (G2). 

Back into a Class 3 handicap at Newbury, Fort George took a big step forward with a front-running victory as the co-favorite. New rider Oisin Murphy asked him to show speed, set an even pace, and gave him just enough of a breather at the right stage. Fort George responded on cue and kicked away again by 3 1/2 lengths in good time. 

That effort earned Fort George a crack in the 1 1/8-mile Cambridgeshire, the historic handicap versus elders at Newmarket. He broke slowly and put himself farther back than desired, but Murphy nursed him into contention on the favorable far side of the course, and he checked in a respectable third. Beaten all of a length by Boiling Point, who was giving him 14 pounds, Fort George was himself giving four pounds to the near-miss second, Indalo, who has continued to perform well in big handicaps this season.

Coming of age in Dubai

Fort George was still unfurnished at three, suggesting that he’d physically strengthen as a four-year-old. His rise in the ratings and effectiveness on quick ground made him a logical type to winter in Dubai, especially since his owner is based there. 

Making his Meydan premiere in the Jan. 9 Lord North H., Fort George again broke tardily, but Shoemark was able to secure a decent position in midpack on the inside. He rallied for second in the wake of the favorite Mothecombe, who capitalized on a dream run up the rail. It was a fine effort trying to give that Godolphin up-and-comer 11 pounds, at about 1 1/8-mile trip likely on the short side for him at this point.

Fort George appreciated going back up in trip in the about 1 1/4-mile Dubai Millennium (G3), and he scored in his very first stakes attempt. Significantly, he optimized his chances by breaking with the field. 

Sparring on the pace, and alternating for the early lead, Fort George took charge turning for home. Godolphin’s Arabian Light loomed and appeared ready to forge clear, but he drifted well wide. Fort George, to his credit, persevered on the rail to get back up on the line. The other Godolphin runner, favored By the Book, was a well-beaten third.

“He has really improved since he’s been over here,” Shoemark told the Dubai Racing Club. “We thought we would change it up a little this time, as he has a habit of being slowly out of the gates, and I was further back than ideal last time, so the plan was to try and slide forward.

“He showed a willing attitude in the closing stages as I think the second (Arabian Light) went three-quarters of a length up on us, but he battled hard. I think he could step back up in trip again. He’s pretty versatile.”

“That was fantastic,” said Fitri’s husband, Dr. Jim Hay. “Kieran couldn’t pull the horse up!”

The ensuing form of the Godolphin placegetters is mixed. Arabian Light was fourth to Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard (G3) before flopping at Royal Ascot. By the Book didn’t advertise the form in his remaining Dubai starts, but back home, he was recently a good second to the old campaigner Al Aasy in a listed stakes at Beverley. 

Fort George boosted his own form by moving forward again in the Dubai City of Gold (G2) on Super Saturday, holding his own against Rebel’s Romance in his first try at about 1 1/2 miles. Despite veering to his right at the start, when he saw open space from his outside post, Fort George smoothly regrouped into a sensible spot just off the pace. 

Rebel’s Romance was traveling more easily of the two as they moved in tandem. But the scrappy Fort George drew up to his flank and made the globetrotting legend work to put him away. That elevates Fort George’s effort from “somebody had to be second” to a more informative piece of form, as he stuck to his guns for the duration and pulled nearly six lengths clear of third. 

The outbreak of war with Iran prolonged Fort George’s stay in the theater, and connections rolled the dice in the Dubai Turf (G1) on World Cup night. The cutback to about 1 1/8 miles at that level was too hot for him to handle, and he wound up ninth. The encouraging sign was that he broke alertly, chased the pace out wide, and remained in the hunt until he faded late. Ombudsman was far too good, but Fort George wasn’t disgraced to finish four lengths behind the classy runner-up, Quddwah.

The 1 3/8-mile distance of the Bowling Green is a much better fit for Fort George, as is the level of competition compared to the Dubai Turf. The main question is whether he’ll retain his lessons from Dubai and break better, or relapse into his old tendency to be slowly away off the layoff. It’s a plus that Shoemark makes the trek to ride him at the Spa, considering that they’ve struck up a successful partnership.