Trawlerman goes down fighting in epic G1 Gold Cup

Trawlerman produced another resolute performance at Ascot as he went down by a length to old rival Kyprios in a gripping renewal of the G1 Gold Cup on Thursday, 20 June.

The duo had served up a thrilling tussle at the Berkshire course in October’s G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup, when Trawlerman rallied to deny Kyprios by a neck.

Trawlerman was send on into an early length and a half lead by William Buick, with Kyprios stalking the leader in second until a free-running Caius Chorister moved up to grab the runner-up spot a mile and a quarter from home.

Kyprios took closer order turning in and pressed Trawlerman entering the final quarter-mile, with the John and Thady Gosden-trained stayer rallying gamely after being narrowly headed approaching the final furlong.

Trawlerman continued to battle and little separated the front two until Kyprios found more in the final strides in the two-and-a-half mile showpiece. Sweet William finished third, a full five lengths back.

John Gosden said: “I think with Trueshan coming out of the race, and he would have been the obvious pace, we were left in the knowledge that there was no pace and let Trawlerman go on and do his own thing.

“William gave him a lovely ride in a great rhythm, and just changing his legs, when Kyprios came to him there was a battle, and that’s what you like to see, a ding-dong fight right to the line at the end of the Gold Cup. Having nailed Kyprios in the mud last season, he beat us on the fast ground today.”

William Buick added: "Trawlerman was foot-perfect the whole way, and when I turned in, I thought I had plenty of horse. He kept finding all the way to the line, and even when the winner headed me, he came back. It was a huge run. He stayed the trip. I’m sure the Goodwood Cup will be the next target. The winner has been here and done it before, so you’ve got to respect him, but Trawlerman has run a mighty race."