Sweet for consistent Gosden stayer in Doncaster Cup
Sweet William turned the tables on last year’s winner Trueshan to finally get his moment in the spotlight in the Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden and owned by Philippa Cooper, the five-year-old has always run with credit in the top staying events, but has regularly had to settle for minor honours.
Third to Kyprios at Ascot in the Gold Cup, before chasing home Aidan O’Brien’s star of the division in the Goodwood equivalent, he was sent off the 7-4 favourite to go one better on Town Moor.
Although slowly away in the hands of his regular pilot Robert Havlin, he was never far away from the action as Trueshan shaded a narrow advantage up top from Sweet William’s stablemate Gregory.
It was Trueshan who led them into the straight and with Gregory coming under pressure, the eye was drawn to Sweet William edging into contention.
Sent on by Havlin with a furlong and a half to run, he showed a striking turn of foot to surge clear of Trueshan – who despite rallying and gaining ground on the idling Sweet William in the closing stages, still finished a length adrift of Clarehaven’s fourth winner of the Doncaster staying showpiece in second.