Illinois might find a suitable replacement for Kyprios, as per Scandinavia's expectation, affirming their dominance in the division following their win.
Scandinavia, a three-year-old racehorse, has captured the attention of the racing world with his impressive performances in 2025. Trained by Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle, this horse by the sire Justify has been making waves since his maiden win over a mile and a quarter.
Scandinavia's breakthrough came at Newmarket, where he won the G3 Bahrain Trophy by an astonishing 8 1/2 lengths. This victory was followed by an even more significant achievement: a win in the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup. This feat marked Scandinavia as the first three-year-old to win this race since Stradivarius in 2017.
The Goodwood Cup race was a thrilling one, with Scandinavia defeating his favored stablemate Illinois, who was conceding 14 pounds. The final margin was a narrow three-quarters of a length, a testament to both horses' determination and skill. Scandinavia's victory not only marked a strong statement for his own potential but also positioned him as a leading contender for the St Leger later that year.
The Goodwood Cup race was overshadowed by the tragic fatal injury of the veteran stayer Trueshan, the 2021 Goodwood Cup winner, who suffered a fractured pastern during the race and was euthanized on safety grounds. This unfortunate event cast a somber tone over the races, but also highlighted the emergence of Scandinavia as a new staying star.
Aidan O’Brien has described Scandinavia as a “typical Justify” horse—known for being genuine stayers with class and stamina, akin to the qualities of Galileo but with additional brilliance. Scandinavia's tenacity and stamina have been praised by O'Brien, suggesting the horse has significant potential to excel at staying distances in the future.
Looking ahead, Scandinavia is seen as a potential successor in the staying division, with strong prospects for classic races such as the St Leger. His profile and recent performances suggest he could step into the shoes of great stayers like Kyprios and Stradivarius, and make a major impact on long-distance turf racing as a top-class stayer.
Scandinavia's future races may include the Voltigeur, the Arc, the British Leger, or the Irish Leger. As the racing season continues, all eyes will be on this promising young horse as he seeks to solidify his position as one of the most exciting young staying horses on the European racing scene.
Scandinavia's success in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, where he beat his favored stablemate Illinois, highlights his potential in sports like horse-racing, making him a strong contender for future races such as the Voltigeur, the Arc, the British Leger, or the Irish Leger.
With his impressive performances and Aidan O’Brien’s comparison of him to horses like Galileo and Stradivarius, Scandinavia could soon become a leading figure in the world of horse-racing, potentially making a significant impact on long-distance turf racing.
