The Gold Cup is the most prestigious event in the staying division. Since its inception in 1807, it has become one of the most heralded prizes to land on the flat calendar, with it being synonymous with household names. Lester Piggott had won the race a record eleven times spanning between a twenty year period, the exceptional staying turned leading National Hunt stallion Yeats has won the race a record four times, with the people’s horse Stradivarius joint second with Sagaro, who have both won the race three times.
The return of old faces on the flat is what makes this contest such a familiar one, as the majority of star flat horses are shipped off to stud to maintain their stallion values thus fans are unable to develop a sporting bond with the horses and with a number of younger legs in this lineup, lets hope it can develop some star stayers for the future.
Illinois
Aidan O’Brien is the leading trainer in the Gold Cup, starting with four straight victories from Yeats between 2006 and 2009, before Fame And Glory, Leading Light, Order Of St George and Kyprios all notched up further successes. The latter sadly misses out this time around, but O’Brien has a more than adequate replacement in Illinois, who could dominate the division for the next few years should he take to this new trip.
The son of Galileo has been a model of consistency at the top level since his maiden success at the Curragh, with form figures reading 332122211. While he is yet to land Group One honours, he’s bumped into some smart types such as Los Angeles in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, Sosie in the Grand Prix de Paris and Brueghel in the St Leger.
Illinois returned in good shape this season with success in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester when not looking all that in love with the tight track, and given his dominant performance in the Queen’s Vase here last season, which has thrown up subsequent Gold Cup types in the past, he should prove tough to beat.
Trawlerman
The Gosdens are no strangers to success in this contest, notably dominating it in the last decade with the imperious Stradivarius. Trawlerman hasn’t looked back over staying trips since landing the Ebor at York in 2022, with his form over two miles reading 3801132351 and he was only just denied by Kyprios in this contest last season, despite beating that rival by a neck the year before.
He comfortably made all on his reappearance this term to beat former high class stayer Coltrane in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown, a race won by Big Orange in 2017 prior to winning the Gold Cup next time out. There’s very little chips in the blue armour of Trawlerman other than his keen tendencies, but if William Buick can keep a lid on him from the front then he has every chance of toppling Illinois, particularly with stamina already guaranteed.
Candelari
Despite only making his debut last December, Candelari has rapidly made a name for himself as a potentially high class stayer, having won the Group One Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp last month in dour fashion for Francis-Henri Graffard.
He’s still something of an unknown quantity in here, and with few miles on the clock he can’t be taken especially coming from such a staying family, but he takes on his strongest opposition yet along with entirely different going.
Sweet William
While Sweet William is very much the second string of the Gosden’s, he’s another model of consistency in these contest with him remarkably never being out of the first three in his sixteen race career. He shaped in need of the run at York behind Rebel’s Romance last time out when beaten a length, and he came on for his reappearance last term when landing the Henry II Stakes.
Sweet William could only manage third in this contest last term but that was his first try at the trip and he’s arguably a stronger type this time around. That said, as admirable as he is, there general suspicion is that there are stronger stayers at this trip, and he may have to settle for minor honours once more.
Wonder Legend
We often see these stayers graduate out of handicap company as they age and that could be the case with Wonder Legend, who was seriously impressive when bolting up in the All-Weather Championship Marathon contest at Newcastle last time out, giving some seventeen pounds to the second.
The son of Sea The Stars has to prove he can translate his progressive form on the all-weather back on turf, and it would have to be a concern that connections noted they would’ve preferred some softer going for his return to the grass. That said, it’s rather surprising they haven’t rolled the dice off top-weight in the Northumberland Plate unless they chance the race doesn’t come too soon.
He’s undoubtedly progressive, but whether he has the ability to hang in there with these classy stayers on this ground raises an eyebrow.
Yashin
The former Jessie Harrington inmate is no forlorn hope in here given his form behind Kyprios last season, and he’s of minor interest after making a winning debut for Michael Bell here in the Sagaro Stakes in a first time tongue tie.
The Sagaro Stakes has thrown up winners of the Gold Cup in the past, and Yashin lowered the colours of 4/6F Coltrane who had won the previous two renewals. That said, Coltrane has slightly regressed of late and it was a moderately run affair. While you can’t knock a winning effort, Yashin is rank bottom of the ratings here and will have to improve a chunk to be taking this.
Coltrane
Andrew Banding’s son of Mastercraftsman has been a flag bearer for the yard in the staying division throughout the last few years. Having graduated out of handicap company, Coltrane bolted up ten lengths in a Listed contest at Goodwood and notched up four subsequent victories in group company. His record in group one company reads 423563 however, suggesting he’s always been vulnerable to something of a higher calibre, and it would be a surprise to see him reverse recent form with Trawlerman despite his second in this race in 2023.
Dubai Future
Dubai Future has 30 lengths to find with Calendari on their Longchamp effort last time out, but he mightn’t be entirely out of it if taking his Meydan success in April at face value. He had Double Major two lengths behind him there, a strong stayer who was only a length behind Candelari at Chantilly in March, and Trawlerman was a further four lengths behind.
It’s been three years since he last raced on these shores though, but his form over here since being gelded does read 24133 which includes a course success in the Wolverton here in 2022. Despite his advancing years, he is still very much unexposed over staying distances and if soft ground was to blame for his blow out at Longchamp, then he would have a minor squeak based on his penultimate effort now back on a sounder surface.
Verdict
This looks to be between the top three in the market, and the classy, relentless galloper ILLINOIS should prove tough to beat to give Aidan O’Brien his twelfth success in the contest. He’s long shaped as if there isn’t a distance long enough for him without being detrimental to the fact his does possess some speed, and in Kyprios’ absence we could see another staying star unearthed.
Trawlerman is taken to follow the selection home, his form here since equipped with a hood reads 3123, and his form with Kyprios makes him the chief threat to Illinois with the ground providing no issues.
It was a toss up between Candelari and Sweet William for the final place, but the unexposed former gets the nod as this extra distance might just prove more suitable. He hit the line strongly at Longchamp to beat a proven stayer in Sevenna’s Knight with ease, and I’d expect him to be plugging on late.
Gold Cup 1-2-3
- Illinois
- Trawlerman
- Candelari
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