Trawlerman nets Gold at Ascot
ASCOT Trawlerman produced a stunning performance to lead from pillar to post and win Royal Ascot's most historic race, the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup (4,000m) on Thursday, June 19, for the almighty Godolphin and in-form father-and-son training partnership John and Thady Gosden.
It was quite some way for jockey William Buick to win his first Gold Cup aged 36, the winner also breaking the track record.
Norway-born Buick, who won Wednesday's feature, the Group 1 Prince of Wales Stakes (2,000m) on Ombudsman, also for Team Gosden-Godolphin, stood up in the irons to salute the crowd punching the air on the Golden Horn seven-year-old.
"He's a great horse, only beaten by the great Kyprios last year," said Buick, in reference to the dual winner and defending champion who was recently retired.
"I did not have to put the brakes on once. He was on autopilot - I was just a passenger. My first Gold Cup, long time coming, not an easy race to win. I am delighted."
For the Gosdens, it was their second win in the race since they teamed up but, for John it was his fifth, having trained the legendary Stradivarius to three successive victories (2018-20).
"He (Trawlerman) just goes off, William said 'he can judge pace better than me'," said Gosden senior of the veteran of nine wins.
"We know he stays. They never got to him, simply outstayed them. He's part of the furniture, he's a favourite.
"He ran Kyprios close, it is great to come back to show he's a proper Cup horse, and he is a lovely staying horse for the future."
Gosden, 74, is usually as well informed as anyone but the Cambridge economics graduate was caught off guard when being told it was Buick's first Gold Cup.
"Really? A fabulous jockey," purred Gosden.
The Gosdens' five winners this year are welcomed after a disappointing Royal Ascot last year.
"Last year was tricky, we've aimed at this for 4-5-6 months, great when it comes to fulfilment," he said. "One has to be realistic, there are always plenty of banana skins around the corner."
While Aidan O'Brien's fancied runner Illinois never landed a blow on Trawlerman, the Irish master combined with his stable jockey Ryan Moore for a treble to move to 96 Royal Ascot victories for O'Brien and 90 for Moore.
Odds-on favourite Charles Darwin prevailed in the opening Group 2 Norfolk Stakes (1,000m), before Garden Of Eden took the honours in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes (2,400m).
Trinity University wrapped up the prolific haul in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes (2,000m). AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Paper
2 hours ago
- New Paper
Lazzat seals 1st victory for France in QEII Jubilee
ASCOT Lazzat gave France their first winner in the £1 million (S$1.73 million) Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) on the final day of the five-day Royal Ascot event on June 21, denying Japan their maiden win at Royal Ascot as the gallant Satono Reve finished second. Lazzat's victory rounded off a superb week for the Emir of Qatar's Wathnan Racing, after Humidity ($29) - who emulated his full brother Holloway Boy in 2022 - also landed the Listed Chesham Stakes (1,400m) in the opener. Haatem, French Master and Crimson Advocate saluted earlier in the week, taking Wathnan Racing's win tally to five at the royal meeting. Lazzat ($28), a four-year-old son of Territories, was France's last hope of salvaging something from the week. Two other French raiders fared badly: Sajir was withdrawn while Topgear lost two of his racing plates and ran last. The winner was still in feisty form post winning as he shied away from someone coming to him with a blanket like a matador and dumped jockey James Doyle on the turf. Doyle dusted himself down as his 26th Royal Ascot winner disappeared into the distance. "I cannot take any credit at all," he said modestly. "(Trainer) Jerome (Reynier) was very confident. I could tell Satono Reve was coming all right but you won't get a more genuine horse than this." The Wathnan Racing's stable jockey also won on Humidity, as well as Haatem and French Master on the first day. A Group 1 winner in Japan, Satono Reve lost little in defeat under Joao Moreira and did better than the previous 10 Japanese runners at the meeting, all of whom had finished outside the first three. "We came in with a lot of confidence but unfortunately bumped into a very good horse. I thought I had him (Lazzat) but he had another gear. My horse ran really well," said Moreira. Owned by the almighty Godolphin, two-time Grade 1 Breeder's Cup Turf (2,400m) winner Rebel's Romance ($10) endeared himself further when he won the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2,400m) on June 21. Trainer Charlie Appleby's last runner of the week delivered his first win at Royal Ascot since Naval Crown landed the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) in 2022. "It is a huge honour to have a horse like this," said the UK handler. "This was the horse we needed with the last roll of the dice, he is a battler. "He is more than our iron horse; he has kept the yard afloat this week. He is our stable's favourite and always will be." Appleby, who began the season with a bang by winning both the English 1000 and 2000 Guineas, shrugged off the ending of the losing run. "Of course it is not a matter of life and death," said Appleby, who has taken his tally to 16 Royal Ascot winners. "If you look at the bigger picture and beyond racing, you have got to take the losses and take positives out of it. It is the equine Olympics." Jockey William Buick has had a far better week than Appleby after landing three wins, including the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup (4,000m) with Trawlerman for Godolphin. "He is a dream horse. Any jockey fortunate to have in his career a horse like this is blessed," said the 36-year-old Norway-born jockey. Following the conclusion of the five-day royal meeting, the Irish-based Coolmore parnerships took the leading owner award for a third consecutive year - their sixth title overall - with five wins, three seconds and four thirds, edging out Wathnan Racing, who secured five wins and had six thirds. The father-and-son training partnership John and Thady Gosden enjoyed five wins overall, but they took the leading trainer award only on the final day after Spy Chief ran second in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes (1,400m), giving the British co-trainers their fourth runner-up finish. Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien had to settle for second with five wins and three seconds. Top jockey Ryan Moore ruled the roost in the jockeys' arena after he won the leading jockey award for a 12th time with seven wins. AFP
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Straits Times
Stephen Eustaquio juggles duties with Porto and Canada
Porto midfielder Stephen Eustaquio in action during the 0-0 Club World Cup Group A draw against Palmeiras at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 15. PHOTO: REUTERS East Rutherford – Portuguese club Porto's squad for the Club World Cup includes midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, the captain of Canada, who is also listed in his national team's roster for the ongoing Concacaf Gold Cup being held in the United States. Having a player represent both his club and national team in two official competitions at the same time is a rare occurrence in football history. Porto began their campaign in the revamped tournament with a goalless draw against Brazil's Palmeiras on June 15 in East Rutherford, just one day before Canada's Gold Cup opener in Vancouver. With the Gold Cup jointly hosted by Canada and the United States, and the Canadian team moving on to Houston, for the rest of their group stage matches, the possibility of Eustaquio joining the squad became realistic, provided Porto's journey in the Club World Cup ends. The flight from East Rutherford to Houston takes about three hours. '(It's) allowed by Fifa and Concacaf,' Canada's media office told Reuters. 'Eustaquio was named to both rosters a few weeks back, and if fit and able, he will join Canada Soccer's men's national team following Porto's conclusion at the Club World Cup,' the national team added in an e-mail. The inclusion of the 28-year-old Eustaquio in both squads comes at a time when many players are wary of fatigue at the end of the season. Porto did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. The Portuguese side wrap up the group stage with a match against Egypt's Al Ahly on June 23. It remains unclear whether they will progress to the knockout rounds. Porto are third in Group A with one point from two games, ahead of Al Ahly only on goal difference. Palmeiras and Miami have four points. Canada, meanwhile, crushed Honduras 6–0, and drew 1-1 with Curacao on June 21. They conclude the group stage against El Salvador on June 24. At Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Nathan Saliba scored Canada's goal in the ninth minute, collecting a deflection of a free kick and burying a strike into the bottom left of the net. But Curacao equalised four minutes into added time via Jeremy Antonisse. Canada top Group B with four points from two games, one ahead of Honduras. Curacao are third on two points, while El Salvador prop up the group on one point. Meanwhile, at the Club World Cup, Eustaquio came off the bench in the draw against Palmeiras and the 2-1 loss to Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. The Canadian team said: 'We want him to do well in the Club World Cup and we also would welcome him back into the men's run at the Gold Cup.' REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Straits Times
Eustaquio juggles duties with Porto and Canada
FILE PHOTO: Jun 15, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; FC Porto midfielder Stephen Eustaquio (6) in action during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against SE Palmeiras at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images/File Photo REUTERS Portuguese club Porto's squad for the Club World Cup includes midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, the captain of Canada, who is also listed in his national team's roster for the ongoing CONCACAF Gold Cup being held in the United States. Having a player represent both his club and national team in two official competitions at the same time is a rare occurrence in football history. Porto began their campaign in the revamped tournament with a goalless draw against Brazil's Palmeiras last Monday in East Rutherford, just one day before Canada's Gold Cup opener in Vancouver. With the Gold Cup jointly hosted by Canada and the U.S., and the Canadian team moving on to Houston, for the rest of their group stage matches, the possibility of Eustaquio joining the squad became realistic, provided Porto's journey in the Club World Cup ends. The flight from East Rutherford to Houston takes about three hours. "(It's) allowed by FIFA and CONCACAF," Canada's media office told Reuters. "Eustaquio was named to both rosters a few weeks back, and if fit and able, he will join Canada Soccer's Men's National Team following Porto's conclusion at the Club World Cup," the national team added in an email. The inclusion of the 28-year-old Eustaquio in both squads comes at a time when many players are wary of fatigue at the end of the season. Porto did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. The Portuguese side wraps up the group stage with a match against Egypt's Al Ahly on Monday. It remains unclear whether they will progress to the knockout rounds. Canada, meanwhile, crushed Honduras 6–0, and drew 1-1 with Curacao on Sunday. They conclude the group stage against El Salvador on June 24. Eustaquio came off the bench in the draw against Palmeiras and the 2–1 loss to Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. The Canadian team said: "We want him to do well in the Club World Cup and we also would welcome him back into the men's run at the Gold Cup." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
