Prix du Cadran remains a possible for the revitalised Trueshan

September 20

This time last week the jury was out as to whether Trueshan‘s best days were behind him, but following the seven-year-old’s return to form in the Doncaster Cup, Alan has put the G1 Prix du Cadran at Longchamp on September 30 very much back on the agenda.

The Trueshan who has been idolised at Barbury for the past four years looked a shadow of his old self in his first two races this season, but the wind operation he had in the summer has definitely revitalised our stable-star, judged by the manner of his victory last Friday.

It will be early next week before Trueshan resumes fast work, but the vibes at home have been so encouraging that Alan, who could have gone straight for the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Champions Day – a race the horse has won for the past three years – is now first favouring a trip back to Longchamp for the Cadran, in which he beat the mighty Stradivarius in 2021.

Alan said:”I am going to try and get Trueshan to France. He has had two or three days on the water treadmill, which he loves, but he will be back cantering this week-end, and if everyone is happy after he has done a faster piece of work early next week he will head back to Longchamp.”

Not that Alan has ruled out attempting an unprecedented four-timer at Ascot on October 21. He added:”We won both races a couple of years ago, when they were only a fortnight apart, and this year there is an extra week between them, which gives us a bit more of a chance. Obviously, we will take things one stage at a time, but if I’m happy with what I see at home we’ll cross the channel.”

Reflecting on Trueshan’s unbelievable performance on Town Moor, Alan added:”He was so fresh after his break and did a lot wrong in the race. We had to find out whether the fire was still there, and it was a relief to discover that it was.

“No doubt the wind op was a big factor as he hadn’t finished off at all in either of his two previous races, but we can only learn so much from what we see on the gallops. He needed to do it on the track, and everyone was delighted that he has taken a huge step towards getting back to his best.”