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Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
William Buick ecstatic after Trawlerman smashes track record to claim Gold Cup win at Royal Ascot
The horse is the star: never forget It. When trainers are excelling and jockeys are dazzling, it is only possible thanks to the efforts of the animals who give everything. And how Trawlerman, the latest winner of a race that dates back to 1807, has given everything. His 21-race career began on a dank November night, at Chelmsford, in November 2020 when nobody was allowed on track due to the pandemic; yesterday, 65,718 flooded through Ascot 's turnstiles. Over the course of five years, for six different jockeys, Trawlerman, trained in Newmarket by John and Thady Gosden for owners Godolphin, has covered 38-and-a-quarter miles in competition; he's raced in Saudi Arabia, Dubai three times and had earned more than £1million for his efforts. This latest test, however, was the one that would determine his place in the pantheon. History awaits those who succeed in Ascot's Gold Cup, those who fail in this two-and-a-half-mile war quickly fade from the memory; thanks to a relentless display of galloping, Trawlerman will never be forgotten. He did this the hard way – and how. William Buick, his jockey, sprung out of the starting stalls as quickly as jack comes out of a box and immediately put his foot to the accelerator: 33mph, 35mph, up to 36mph as he charged past the crowded stands. Sent off the 85/40 favourite, he never saw another rival. 'Trawlerman just goes off,' said John Gosden, greeting back his fifth winner of an extraordinary week. 'I said to William: 'What did you do?' and he said: 'I threw the reins at him! He can judge pace better than me!' and off they went together. He's an out-and-out galloper. 'William judged it perfectly – it is not an easy thing to do over two and a half miles. If anyone is going to go by him, they will know they have been in a race but they never got to him. He is a wonderful old horse, and a great team look after him. He is a favourite, part of the furniture really.' Buick, not surprisingly, was exultant. Just as elated, though, was Frankie Dettori, who had ridden Trawlerman eight times but watched this like a proud father from the parade ring and no wonder, his old pal had covered the distance in 4:15.07, shattering the course record. Dettori was telling anyone who would listen that a seven-length drubbing of Illinois – the only slight disappointment for Aidan O'Brien on a day when he saddled three winners – was well deserved, as he had danced every dance, a loveable heavyweight like Frank Bruno in his heyday. Some may quibble and ask whether this would have happened had Kyprios, the champion who had flattened Trawlerman here 12 months ago, not suffered a career-ending injury but that only serves to prove what a superb achievement it has been to keep this seven-year-old enthusiastic for so long. 'The Gold Cup is an extraordinary race,' Buick enthused. 'It is an extreme distance at Royal Ascot – this is an incredible place. This is the greatest week of horseracing. Trawlerman went down so narrowly in the race last year, so to get it right this year means the world. 'He's really what you want in a two-and-a-half-mile race. I did not have to touch the brakes once. He was on autopilot; he knows his own speed and stays well, so I was just a passenger. When you get into the last half-mile, that is when Trawlerman comes into his own.' O'Brien, always magnanimous in defeat, provided the context. Illinois, the valiant runner up, had finished seven lengths clear of 28/1 shot Dubai Future but bridging the gap to Trawlerman was a bridge too far at this stage. 'It shows how good Kyprios was, doesn't it? as Trawlerman had been second to him a couple of times,' O'Brien noted. A few yards away, cameras were clicking and a bay horse was guzzling out of bucket of water rather than being paraded for the crowd. 'The priority is the horse,' said one Ascot official. How fitting those words were.
BreakingNews.ie
6 hours ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
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. Advertisement 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.' Advertisement 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. Advertisement '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. Advertisement 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.'
Washington Post
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Trawlerman turns on the style to win the Gold Cup on Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot
ASCOT, England — On a sun-kissed day showcasing elegance and fashion at Royal Ascot, Trawlerman turned on the style to win the signature Gold Cup by seven lengths on Thursday. Jockey William Buick rode the favorite to victory in the top race of the week and earned a first prize of $500,000 for Trawlerman's owner, the Dubai-based Godolphin operation.
Khaleej Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Dazzling Godolphin double as Trawlerman shatters course record
On a sun-splashed Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot, Dubai's unstoppable Godolphin stable reigned supreme with a thrilling double crowned by a record-breaking Gold Cup (G1) triumph from Trawlerman and a landmark victory for Saeed bin Suroor in the Britannia Stakes. The highlight came in the day's showpiece race when Trawlerman, last year's gallant runner-up, bounced back to claim British racing's most prestigious and biggest staying prize, at the historic meeting clocking a new track record time of 4m 15.02s. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the seven-year-old gelded son of 2015 Epsom Derby hero Golden Horn, broke the previous Gold Cup best set by Rite Of Passage in 2010 by nearly two seconds. Ridden with supreme confidence by William Buick, Trawlerman made all the running, dictating a perfect pace and never looking back. When Illinois, the Aidan O'Brien-trained second favourite loomed into contention, Buick shook the reins and the response was electric. Trawlerman, a seven-year-old gelding by 2015 Epsom Derby hero Golden Horn, powered clear to win by seven commanding lengths, with Bin Suroor's Dubai Gold Cup (G1) winner Dubai Future finishing third, also in the royal blue silks of Godolphin, the stable created by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in 1993. 'I was just a passenger,' said a jubilant Buick, celebrating his first Gold Cup success and second winner of the week after Ombudsman on Wednesday 'He's got an extraordinary engine and the heart of a lion. "I didn't have to touch the brakes once, he was in a nice rhythm and he was relaxed; he went on autopilot, he knows his speed and he stays well so I was just a passenger,' Buick added as he celebrated his first Gold Cup and a second winner of the week.'He's a great horse.' It marked Godolphin's first Gold Cup since Papineau in 2004 and added to a legacy that includes staying greats Kayf Tara (2000) and Classic Cliché (1998). It was also a fifth Gold Cup for John Gosden, reinforcing his reputation as a master of stayers. 'He just does it all with rhythm and heart,' said Gosden Sr. "I didn't enjoy it [the final furlong] because anything can happen, you never know until they cross the line. 'It's absolutely amazing. He's the most grand, lovely horse, he really is.' In a sport where endurance is king, Trawlerman cemented his place among flat racing's elite stayers with a master class in front-running tactics to win the storied Gold Cup underscoring a remarkable consistency at the top level. Buick, claiming his first Gold Cup win, set the pace from the outset, dictating fractions with precision and never allowing his rivals a chance to close the gap. It was a performance that was a textbook exhibition of one of the most demanding trips in flat racing. The Ascot Gold Cup, inaugurated in 1807, stands as the ultimate test of stamina in flat racing and is a race steeped in tradition and prestige. Over more than two centuries, it has crowned some of the sport's most iconic stayers who have left a lasting imprint on racing history. At the pinnacle of this elite group is Yeats, trained by Aidan O'Brien and more recently, Stradivarius captured the public imagination with his thrilling hat-trick of wins from 2018 to 2020 under Frankie Dettori. The turn of the millennium saw Kayf Tara dominate for Godolphin, while Classic Cliché and Royal Rebel added to the stab;e's rich legacy. Earlier in the afternoon, Arabian Story exploded through the field in the Britannia Stakes to hand legendary trainer Saeed bin Suroor his 40th Royal Ascot winner - a milestone moment for Godolphin's most decorated trainer from Dubai. The colt, ridden to perfection by jockey Kevin Stott, delivered a flying finish down the stand side rails, denying his rivals in the shadow of the post. 'Royal Ascot has always been special to me,' said bin Suroor. 'To win 40 races here for Godolphin is an honour, and Arabian Story is one for the future. 'He's improving with every run and now we'll look to step him up to Group race company. I think he's earned that and deserves to take his chance in higher company.'
The Herald Scotland
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Trawlerman nets biggest staying prize of them all
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.' Winning connections with Trawlerman (PA) 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'.' William Buick aboard Trawlerman salutes the Ascot crowd (John Walton/PA) 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.'
