QIPCO British Champions
Long Distance Cup
Group 1, Ascot 12:55
£500,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus, 1m 7f 209y,
Class 1   
Saturday 18th October 2025

1 Trawlerman 5/6F
2 Sweet William 5/2
3 Al Qareem 7/1
5 ran Distances: 1½l, 12l, 17l
Time: 3m 22.29s (fast by 3.61s)

They came to Ascot for stamina, heart and history — and Trawlerman once again delivered the lot. The 5/6 favourite cemented his place as the king of the stayers with a hard-fought, head-down victory over his gallant stablemate Sweet William in the Group 1.

From flagfall it was run like a proper staying test. William Buick had the Godolphin star in the right rhythm early, and when he asked for more turning in, Trawlerman rolled into top gear — long, powerful strides eating up the ground. Sweet William, at 5/2, was closing all the while, the crowd’s murmur swelling as the pink silks loomed large in the final furlong, but the line came just in time — a length and a half the margin between two stablemates trained to the minute by John & Thady Gosden.

For Trawlerman, it’s a second win in this race, following his defeat of Kyprios back in 2023, and caps an unbeaten domestic season that’s already seen triumphs in the Henry II Stakes, the Gold Cup, and the Lonsdale Cup — a campaign that leaves no doubt about his standing as the standard-bearer for Godolphin’s staying ranks.

Trainer John Gosden was full of admiration for both of his charge’s efforts:

“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.”

And for William Buick, it was a fitting finale to a season of excellence:

“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.”

Behind the pair, Sweet William lost nothing in defeat — his rider Robert Havlin reflecting on what might have been:

“Passing the two, I thought this was his day, but he just got a little bit tired inside the last furlong.”

And there was credit, too, for the ever-game Al Qareem, who stuck on bravely for third to round out the placings. Trainer Karl Burke was typically forthright in praise:

“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.”

So on a golden October afternoon, Trawlerman did what he always does — gallop, grind, and give absolutely everything. The clock stopped at 3 minutes 22.29 seconds, but the impression he left will last far longer. The champion stayer — relentless, reliable, and utterly resolute — reigns again.

BetPlay

Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 1)
£500,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 1m 7f 209y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good

POS. (DRAW) FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (2)    Trawlerman 7 9-9 John & Thady Gosden William Buick 5/6F
2 (4) 1½ Sweet William 6 9-9 John & Thady Gosden Robert Havlin 5/2
3 (5) 12 Al Qareem 6 9-9 K R Burke Clifford Lee 7/1
4 (3) 17 Stay True 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Christophe Soumillon 13/2
5 (1) 4 Saratoga 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 66/1