Trueshan too old – remember Persian Punch!

Trueshan is one of the most popular staying horses in the country, and the roof could well come off the Sussex Stand if the eight-year-old wins his second Goodwood Cup on day one of the five-day ‘Glorious’ meeting.

Racing folk are quick to pension a veteran off when he puts in a couple of disappointing runs, but those who claim Trueshan was too old were made to eat a large portion of Humble Pie when he returned to form with a comfortable success in the Listed Coral Marathon at Sandown in July.

Obviously, the defending champion Kyprios is a superb horse and the one they all have to beat, but the great Persian Punch, another superb legend on the staying front, won his first Goodwood Cup as an eight-year-old and promptly returned to Sussex two years later to win the race again – yes, as a 10-y-0!

Hollie Doyle, who knows Trueshan so well, hopes that being the opening day of the meeting they will enjoy the best of the ground, so fingers crossed it will not be another of those cases when Alan is forced to again return to Barbury without having a race.

Declaring her hopes, Hollie said:”Three years ago when Trueshan won the Goodwood Cup was a magical day, and that first Group One was so well deserved  after all he had achieved.

“People were premature in writing off Trueshan before Sandown – he had been bogged down by penalties since Goodwood so it was lovely to see him penalty-free and able to enjoy himself.

“This is a stronger race than the one he won in 2021, but I just hope that Sandown will have done his confidence the world of good.”