Trawlerman (5/6 favourite) cemented his status as the leading stayer around with a gritty success over stablemate Sweet William in the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup.

In a strongly run race, William Buick kicked for home on Trawlerman approaching the home turn and, although Sweet William (5/2) made good headway in the straight, a length and a half separated the John and Thady Gosden-trained duo at the line.

Godolphin’s star stayer, winning this race for a second time after his defeat of Kyprios in 2023, is unbeaten domestically this year after wins in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes, Group 1 Gold Cup and Group 2 Lonsdale Cup.

John Gosden said: “I think Trawlerman was at his imperious best in the Gold Cup; I think today he might not totally be… Sweet William ran a blinder. They are two lovely horses, seven years old and six years old, great staying horses. They are part of the family.

“When they go to take a breather, that’s when Trawlerman says ‘no, we’re running two miles at a proper gallop, we’re not fiddling about’. He probably idled a bit, but the other horse was running on, so it was a great performance from both of them.

“Sweet William has won the Doncaster Cup two years running, and the crowd gave a hell of a roar, because they saw the pink colours coming, and thought we’re going to have a hell of a battle. There was a moment when I thought Sweet William might get it, and then didn’t. At the furlong pole I thought he might.

“They are two fabulous horses. We will put them away now, bring them out next year and get a run in before the Gold Cup. That would be the plan. Trawlerman is a relentless galloper and I couldn’t be more thrilled with him. It is late in the year for him – he has been on the go for a long time, but it was a great performance.”

Superstar

Buick said: “Trawlerman is a superstar. I am delighted for him that he can cap his year off in such style. He goes out there, wears his heart on his sleeve and is a proper horse – he is a joy to ride.

“We always have a very open mind [with regard to tactics], the only thing we want is some pace and, if there's not a good pace, he can make his own running. Al Qareem took us along for the first part of the race and we took it up from half a mile out. This is proper racing, championship racing.

“Trawlerman is the champion stayer and did what we expected of him. I think he is a better horse than he was last year. Frankie [Dettori] won this race on him a couple of years ago and it’s my turn right now. I am very fortunate to be the one riding him.”

Sweet William’s jockey Robert Havlin said: “Passing the two, I thought this was his day, but he just got a little bit tired inside the last furlong.”

Karl Burke said of the third Al Qareem: “He is a fantastic horse. I have just said to the owners that he’s within 10 lengths of the best two stayers in Europe. We were chancing our arm a bit; with five runners, we’ve picked up nearly £60,000 again today, he’s just an absolute star for the yard.

“I would say that will be it for him this year. He has had a hard campaign and we will give him a nice holiday now, then bring him back and hopefully do it all again next year. He loves it here and hopefully we can come back and defend the race [Cumberland Lodge Stakes] he has won three years on the bounce.”