3 minute read
Trueshan added a second Prix du Cadran to his glittering CV at Longchamp on Saturday, making all under Hollie Doyle.
The Alan King-trained seven-year-old had made a triumphant return to form with a victory ahead of Coltrane in the Group 2 Doncaster Cup last time and was favourite to win his second Cadran, despite late support for Emily Dickinson.
It was the first time the seven-year-old had made the running in his career and he was allowed a slender lead throughout the contest. The well-backed Emily Dickinson was poised in second to give the gelding a race turning into the straight, but the filly appeared to struggle over the 2m4f distance and faded dramatically in the closing stages. Trueshan kicked clear to win easily with the outsider Moon Wolf finishing well to finish second. The Charles Byrne-trained Run For Oscar placed third.
Trainer Alan King said, "I had a busy morning at home and I've just walked into Newmarket, but obviously I'm thrilled.
"I spoke to Hollie this morning and we thought there wasn't going to be much pace in the race. We said if that was the case we'd let him bowl along in front and he obviously loved it.
"He was more settled than he was at Doncaster and I think that was firstly because that run just knocked the freshness off him and second he just settled well in front today.
"We were struggling with him in the early part of the year, but the little wind operation we gave him as clearly helped and it looks like he's right back to his best.
"The good thing is we have a fresh horse for the backend of the season and obviously we hope to go back to Ascot in three weeks' time to win that race for a fourth time.
"I'll give him an entry in the Prix Royal-Oak the following week just in case he needs that extra time, but Ascot would be the plan."
Paddy Power trimmed Trueshan from 4/1 to 3/1 for the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot on 21 October.
Group 1 success for Sea Silk Road in Royallieu
Sea Silk Road claimed a well-deserved first Group 1 in the Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp on Saturday for trainer William Haggas.
Third in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille at the same track when last seen, Sea Silk Road has enjoyed a good season and recorded a win the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock Park in early June.
Settled at the rear of the field, Sea Silk Road was brought wide in the final straight to make her run by jockey Aurelian Lemaitre, avoiding the traffic problems experienced by the main pack in the final two furlongs. She kicked clear with a furlong to run, relishing the step up in distance, to record an easy success ahead of Diva Donna and La Mehana.
"She's a lovely filly and deserved to win a Group One. She looked like she needed the extra distance last time and has proved as much today," said Maureen Haggas, wife and assistant trainer for William Haggas.
"She was a very immature three-year-old, which is part of the reason we kept her [in training] and she has now really grown into herself.
"She's won a Group One so she can go off to stud now. When you've won a Group One, you can add to it but you can't improve on it."
Paddy Power have shortened Sea Silk Road from 25/1 to 12/1 for the Group 1 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot on 21 October.