Trawlerman (5/6F) cemented his status as the leading stayer around with a gritty success over stablemate Sweet William in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup.
In a strongly run race, William Buick kicked for home on Trawlerman approaching the home turn and, although Sweet William (5/2) made good headway in the straight, a length and a half separated the John & Thady Gosden-trained duo at the line.
Godolphin’s star stayer, winning this race for a second time after his defeat of Kyprios in 2023, is unbeaten domestically this year after wins in the G3 Henry II Stakes, G1 Gold Cup and G2 Lonsdale Cup.
John Gosden said: “I think Trawlerman was at his imperious best in the Gold Cup; I think today he might not totally be… Sweet William ran a blinder. They are two lovely horses, seven years old and six years old, great staying horses. They are part of the family.
“When they go to take a breather, that’s when Trawlerman says ‘no, we’re running two miles at a proper gallop, we’re not fiddling about’. He probably idled a bit, but the other horse was running on, so it was a great performance from both of them.
“Sweet William has won the Doncaster Cup two years running, and the crowd gave a hell of a roar, because they saw the pink colours coming, and thought we’re going to have a hell of a battle. There was a moment when I thought Sweet William might get it, and then didn’t. At the furlong pole I thought he might.
“They are two fabulous horses. We will put them away now, bring them out next year and get a run in before the Gold Cup. That would be the plan. Trawlerman is a relentless galloper and I couldn’t be more thrilled with him. It is late in the year for him – he has been on the go for a long time, but it was a great performance.”
Buick said: “Trawlerman is a superstar. I am delighted for him that he can cap his year off in such style. He goes out there, wears his heart on his sleeve and is a proper horse – he is a joy to ride.
“We always have a very open mind [with regard to tactics], the only thing we want is some pace and, if there’s not a good pace, he can make his own running. Al Qareem took us along for the first part of the race and we took it up from half a mile out. This is proper racing, championship racing.
“Trawlerman is the champion stayer and did what we expected of him. I think he is a better horse than he was last year. Frankie [Dettori] won this race on him a couple of years ago and it’s my turn right now. I am very fortunate to be the one riding him.”
Sweet William’s jockey Robert Havlin said: “Passing the two, I thought this was his day, but he just got a little bit tired inside the last furlong.”
Karl Burke said of the third Al Qareem: “He is a fantastic horse. I have just said to the owners that he’s within 10 lengths of the best two stayers in Europe. We were chancing our arm a bit; with five runners, we’ve picked up nearly £60,000 again today, he’s just an absolute star for the yard.
“I would say that will be it for him this year. He has had a hard campaign and we will give him a nice holiday now, then bring him back and hopefully do it all again next year. He loves it here and hopefully we can come back and defend the race [Cumberland Lodge Stakes] he has won three years on the bounce.”