Brave Trueshan now heads back to France for the Prix du Cadran

We are not complaining about Friday the 13th being unlucky. Instead, everyone at Barbury is so very proud, having seen Trueshan go down on his sword when attempting to win the Doncaster Cup for the second year running.

Trueshan had beaten Sweet William in this G2 race last year when the ground was soft, but, though he tried his hardest to retain his Town Moor stayers crown, it was Philippa Cooper’s enigmatic five-year-old, three years younger than our stable-star, who came out on top, winning by a length, the fourth time this season that he has finished in front of Trueshan.

There was ease in the ground, but underfoot conditions were not as testing as they were 12 months ago, so Hollie Doyle opted to play ‘catch me if you can’ tactics on Trueshan with a circuit still to go. But, though she stepped up the tempo passing the five furlong marker, Sweet William, the 7-4 favourite, was travelling ominously well on the home turn and took charge entering the final quarter-mile.

Sweet William is a real character and started to hang and idle in the closing stages, but, while Trueshan rallied in the last 200 yards, Sweet William was the worthy winner, scoring by a length.

Hollie, visibly proud afterwards, said:”Trueshan was staying on all the way to the line, but this was Sweet William’s day. I decided to make the running and he pricked his ears and relaxed beautifully in front. He was in a great rhythm, and as I increased the pace my confidence began to grow.

“At the top of the straight, I honestly felt that I’d get Sweet William, but in the end he actually beat off our challenge quite easily. Trueshan might be an eight-year-old, but he feels as good as ever and we can now go on to Longchamp for the Prix du Cadran in France, the race he won so impressively last year.”