Trawlerman nets biggest staying prize of them all
Trawlerman made every yard of the running in the Gold Cup to go one better than last year for John and Thady Gosden in the Royal Ascot highlight.
Second to Kyprios 12 months ago, the Godolphin-owned seven-year-old took full advantage of the dual winner's retirement under an excellently-judged ride from William Buick.
Illinois, who had stepped into Kyprios' shoes for Aidan O'Brien, was well placed if good enough, but inside the final furlong Trawlerman (85-40 favourite) began to pull away and ran out an impressive seven-length winner. Dubai Future was third for Saeed bin Suroor in the Godolphin colours.
Buick said: "It's an extreme distance, two and a half miles, so you need an extraordinary horse with an extraordinary set of skills.
"He's got that lung capacity and stamina. He got in a great rhythm — it's a tough thing to do, be in front for two and a half miles like that, but he's so genuine.
"I knew he would stay, which is a big help. It's taken me a long time to win this — I knew he was the right horse, I just hoped I would get it right on him."
John Gosden spoke of his relief after what felt like a long final furlong for the Clarehaven handler.
He said: "I didn't enjoy it (final furlong) because anything can happen, you never know until they cross the line. He's part of the furniture you know. It's absolutely amazing. He's the most grand, lovely horse he really is. The other horse, Sweet William (fourth), they're great old friends."
Trawlerman set a new course record and Gosden praised Buick's ride, repeating the tactics he employed to such good effect when also winning at Sandown last time out.
"We ran him in the Henry II at Sandown and William got it spot on," said Gosden.
"He went what they call in America 'wire to wire', that was two miles around Sandown.
"He's an out-and-out galloper and he rode him beautifully, judged it perfectly — not an easy thing to do over two and a half miles.
"The only way we were going to win was to just say, 'if you're going to beat me, you're going to know you've been in a race, as you're going to have to go two and a half miles at a proper gallop'."
Gosden already has a title defence on his mind and given Trawlerman will be eight next year, he is eager to measure the gelding's efforts ahead of that long-range target.
He added: "I think he should be aimed at coming back next year, and he shouldn't be over-raced at all in between time. Don't be surprised if you don't see him again until the Henry II next year. That could be a reality.
"I'll discuss it with Sheikh Mohammed, but he doesn't need to be going to all these races. He might come back here in the autumn (for the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day), he's won that, we might go for that, and then put him away."
O'Brien feels there is room for improvement in the staying division with Illinois, after his planned super-sub had to make do with the silver medal.
He said: "We thought Illinois would be a Gold Cup horse next year and obviously the plan was Kyprios would come here this year and Illinois would step up next year.
"The plan was for him to go to the Coronation and I was training him as a good mile-and-a-half horse, and then when Kyprios retired we switched him to this race.
"We have to be happy with the run and he had a lovely preparation the last day. Maybe if we knew he was coming here straight away, we might of had him going earlier and maybe lighter."
While Illinois was seemingly put in his place by Trawlerman, O'Brien would not shirk a potential rematch in the Goodwood Cup, adding: "He might go to Goodwood and meet this horse again and I would imagine he will progress again then.
"He got tired at the two-furlong pole today, like a lot of horses do, and we will see if we can improve him another little bit for this distance.
"It shows how good Kyprios was as Trawlerman had been second to him a couple of times, I think."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
34 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
My Royal Ascot tips include a hugely promising runner who's been a revelation for his top trainer
YOU might think it's rare for a horse to have run a lot further than six furlongs to land the Wokingham Handicap. But if you did you'd be wrong. 1 William Haggas will have More Thunder tuned to perfection for the Wokingham Credit: PA That will give MORE THUNDER (5.00) supporters plenty of hope as he goes for a hat-trick in Saturday afternoon's cavalry charge. More Thunder has been a revelation this season for William Haggas, landing two sprint handicaps with last-gasp thrusts. Last term he was in the hands of Sir Michael Stoute when he raced as far as an extended mile and a quarter. Cape Byron, Bacchus and Baccarat are just three fairly recent Wokingham victors who had tried distances way beyond the distance they were going at Royal Ascot. Cape Byron ran a couple of times over a mile and a furlong, and was once down the field in a Hunt Cup. Bacchus went a mile in a nursery at Newmarket in his younger days, while Baccarat once went a mile at Ayr. More Thunder is untried on very fast ground, but he will be flying home off the strong gallop and may well get up under Tom Marquand and do what My Cloud did in the Wokingham. So we have made it. It's the final day of Royal Ascot 2025 and all seven sweltering races are once again on ITV. Most read in Horse Racing The action kicks off with the Listed Chesham Stakes for juvenile colts and geldings over 7f. Many with much potential and improvement. TREANMOR cost 2,000,000 euros as a son of Frankel and looked very useful on debut at Newmarket when traveling strongly and hacking up by four lengths. The runner-up has been beaten since, but Treanmor was backed as if defeat was impossible. He obviously should go well and William Buick rides for Charlie Appleby. The Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes is for older horses over 1m4f. Kalpana wasn't declared due to the fast ground so this really should be at the mercy of REBEL'S ROMANCE (3.05) who loves a hard surface, and banged in the Breeders' Cup Turf on firm at Del Mar in November. The latter is a globetrotting superstar for Godolphin and can land this again for Buick and Appleby. He's just bombproof in these events and was a fine third here to Goliath in the King George. Today's big Group 1 is the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over 6f. Another wide open sprint this week. TOPGEAR (3.40) has never encountered ground like this and of course he might hate it. There is also a chance Topgear is better at 7f than 6f. That all said, on ability the French, Christopher Head-trained raider is right in the mix and his Challenge Stakes victory at Newmarket was a very decent one. My selection returned with success at Longchamp this season and if able to go the gallop will finish stronger than most. An each-way chance. Next a Group 3 for three-year-olds in the Jersey Stakes over 7f. Really tricky to sort this lot out! CALIFORNIA DREAMER (4.20) might go well for Amo Racing and David Egan. The Adrian Murray-trained Irish raider was an excellent second to Lake Victoria in the Irish 1000 Guineas when last seen and a drop back to 7f should be beneficial. She was a fine fifth here in the Albany on fast ground last season so she really should get in the mix and has strong each-way claims. Another handicap in the Golden Gates for three-year-olds over 1m2f comes next. And there could be another one for Wathnan here with French raider BEST SECRET (5.35). He's another that it's impossible to know whether he will act on a fast surface, but he's lightly raced and has been impressive in two victories at Saint-Cloud and Longchamp. James Doyle is on top and a handicap mark of 95 looks very fare. Stall 5 should not be the difference between winning losing. Royal Ascot 2025 draws to a close with the Queen Alexandra Stakes marathon over an extended 2m5f. Sober could easily hack up for Willie Mullins but SAMUI (6.10) was a fine third in the Copper Horse on Tuesday and he will be well suited by the extra distance. He can just lob around under Colin Keane and hopefully power clear in the closing stages. What a week it's been. I hope you have enjoyed all the sport. Royal Ascot is just always special. On Saturday, though, amidst the sunshine I'm hoping for thunder, More Thunder! FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Kevin Prendergast dead: Ruby Walsh leads tributes to ‘trailblazer' Irish horse racing trainer
RUBY Walsh is among many prominent horse racing figures to pay tribute to Kevin Prendergast after his death at the age of 92. The son of the legendary Paddy 'Darkie' Prendergast, he carried on the family business by establishing himself as a hugely successful flat trainer. Having been an amateur jockey early on in life, he obtained his trainer's licence in 1963 and embarked upon a glittering career with over 2000 winners. Speaking on today's ITV coverage from Royal Ascot, Walsh hailed Prendergast on a personal as well as professional level. Walsh emphasized: "He followed in the footsteps of his father Darky, and he trailed for long enough to compete against the great Vincent O'Brien and Aidan O'Brien, and he was a trailblazer. "His horses always looked impeccable. He was a brilliant racehorse trainer. Read More On Irish Sport "He was a legend in the sport, but he was a massive character, and he will be sadly missed." His final winner came in August when Chris Hayes rode Copie Conforme to victory at Bellewstown. More to follow... Moment Royal Ascot racegoers hurl punches in vicious brawl in front of shocked punters 1 He's been hailed as 'a brilliant racehorse trainer'
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
3.40 Royal Ascot result – day 5: Who won the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes? How every horse finished
RACING fans are holding their breath as they wait to see who will be victorious in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes 2025! SunSport brings you how every horse finished in the blockbuster 3.40pm race. Advertisement 1 Royal Ascot day 5 is underway and the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes is on now Credit: PA Sun Racing details how the race finished below. 3.40 Ascot result Results to follow ... FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Advertisement Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
