It takes two horses to make a great race and that is exactly what happened in this Gold Cup, as Scandinavia and Trawlerman produced their own version of Grundy and Bustino. Their protracted battle up the Ascot straight saw them put nine lengths between themselves and the rest, highlighting the level of performance both produced. The four-year-old, Scandinavia, was eventually victorious by the official margin of a head at the line, as Trawlerman emerged with huge credit in defeat and we are already eagerly awaiting the rematch.
produced a career-best stepping up in trip. Last year’s Leger winner seemed like he would stay, but until a horse does it there is always an element of doubt. In the end, he was pushed all the way by Trawlerman, who went for home rounding the home turn. Scandinavia never gave Trawlerman too much rope, tracking him early until Caballo De Mar went between the pair. He went after him round the home turn and by the two-furlong pole he was on his quarters. From there home, it was an epic battle. Ryan Moore holding a little bit in reserve for the final 100 yards might have been a key factor as he just got his head in front of his brave rival when it mattered. He has now won six on the bounce between the end of last year and the start of this season.
set an even pace here sensibly on his return to action. While he was the proven stayer, Buick waited until the home turn to really stretch those in behind. He battled bravely when the eventual winner got upsides him in the penultimate furlong and it was only the final 50 yards that he eventually succumbed. The lack of a prep run was almost certainly an inconvenience, but Gosden had him very close to his best on the day.
is unbelievably consistent in these races and ran another solid one. He raced in midfield on the inside and encountered minor traffic problems as the race developed on the home turn. He stayed on well up the straight when plenty of others had cried enough.
was held up last of all in an effort to get him to stay as he stepped up in trip. He travelled well into the race, making ground on the outside of the field around the home turn, but was unable to get close to the two in front. He stayed reasonably well, but had too much running to do to get involved, and underperformed as a result.
produced a big effort despite being keen. Held up well off the pace, she made steady headway turning in and ran all the way to the line, without ever threatening to trouble the principles. She was just a short head off fourth at the line.
raced in midfield throughout and remained in that position largely as the race developed too. He made some ground early in the straight but found it tough inside the final two furlongs. I think he is perhaps better suited to two miles.
raced in mid-division but weakened up the straight as he hung slightly too.
made ground from midfield rounding the home turn. His progress had halted by the two-furlong marker though and he weakened out of it rather tamely.
was always towards the rear and never really threatened to get involved.
was prominent on the inside early but couldn’t go with them from the home turn.
moved forward from midfield with a circuit to go to track Trawlerman. He remained second turning in, and until two furlongs out but he weakened quickly, before being eased virtually to a walk. The vets reported after that he showed signs of heat stress.
