Barbury in mourning as Trueshan has to be put down at Goodwood

July 29

Racing is a wonderful sport, but it can be cruel at times, and Barbury is at its lowest ebb just now as news filtered through from Sussex than our stable-star Trueshan had suffered a fatal injury in the Goodwood Cup.

Former trainer James Given, now director of Health and Welfare with the BHA, said:”It was an unfortunate accident mid-race. The horses were going up the hill and Trueshan’s left-hind astern broke and left him with an injury which is not recoverable.

“Alan (King) rushed down to be with the horse, and, having assessed the situation with the course vet, they agreed that there was no option but to have Trueshan put down.

“I can only sympathise with Alan and all of Trueshan’s connections. He was a magnificent horse for the stable, and all our thoughts go with them.”

Ironically, Trueshan was travelling as well as anything when disaster struck. Hollie Doyle immediately sensed that something was wrong and swiftly pulled him out of the pack,

Trueshan, has been an absolute superstar for Barbury, Bought for a mere 31,000gns at the Newmarket Breeze-Up Sale at the Guineas meeting as a two-year-old, was running in the Goodwood Cup for a fourth time, having won this prestigious race in 2021.

It would have been six years on Saturday that Trueshan clocked up his first win, springing a 33-1 surprise on the all-weather at Wolverhampton. He won 16 of his 35 races  on 13 different tracks. They included three Group 1’s and he amassed more than £2m in prize money for his owners, the Singula Partnership.

Special thoughts go out to both Hollie Doyle, who knew Trueshan so well , and to Cheryl Binner, the devoted lass who was associated with Trueshan for 21 of those races, 10 of them for which she returned home with a winner. Sadly, this evening she returned without the horse than she idolised.