Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup |
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| Group 2, Doncaster 15:00 £150,000 added, 3yo plus, 2m 2f, Class 1  |
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1 Sweet William 10/11F
2 Pendragon 9/2
3 Hipop De Loire 9/1
8 ran Distances: 3¾l, 2l, 7l
Time: 3m 52.24s (fast by 1.46s)
Back-to-back victories in the Doncaster Cup for 𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗠 🏆🏆
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) September 12, 2025
John and Thady Gosden's charge is back to winning ways at @DoncasterRaces - his third win from four visits to the Yorkshire track! 👏pic.twitter.com/pgWVXvhnds
Sweet William, that redoubtable stayer with a heart as big as Town Moor itself, produced a fitting encore to defend his crown in style. A year on from his Group Two triumph, John and Thady Gosden’s seasoned campaigner had danced all the big dances without quite landing the prize—seconds and thirds in the Yorkshire Cup, Goodwood Cup, and Lonsdale Cup, plus a gallant fourth in the Gold Cup at Ascot.
With Trawlerman absent from the line-up, the script seemed set for a Sweet William revival, the layers chalking him up at 10-11 favourite under his trusted ally Robert Havlin. Yet, as often in racing theatre, the first act threw up a twist. The market leader was squeezed leaving the stalls, shuffled to the rear, and for a moment those clutching short-priced slips could be forgiven for a flicker of concern as Havlin nursed his partner back into rhythm.
But like the seasoned professional he is, Sweet William crept into contention down the back, smooth and unhurried, stalking the pace-setter Pendragon by the three-furlong pole. From there, the contest took on an air of inevitability. In Hoiles’ trademark tones, you can almost hear the build: “Sweet William now breathing down Pendragon’s neck… switches, asks, and goes! The Doncaster Cup is his again!” The six-year-old lengthened away, stretching clear for a near four-length verdict—a champion reaffirmed, and a defence done in emphatic style.
Doncaster Cup
(British Champions Series) (Group 2)
£150,000 added, 3yo plus, 2m 2f, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (5) Sweet William 6 9-7 John & Thady Gosden Robert Havlin 10/11F
2 (4) 3¾ Pendragon 3 8-10 Sir Mark Prescott Bt Luke Morris 9/2
3 (2) 2 Hipop De Loire 8 9-7 W P Mullins William Buick 9/1
4 (7) 7 Kyle Of Lochalsh 5 9-7 Hughie Morrison Tom Marquand 18/1
5 (3) 2¼ Coltrane 8 9-7 Andrew Balding P J McDonald 14/1
6 (6) 1½ Tashkhan 7 9-7 Brian Ellison Colin Keane 66/1
7 (8) 14 Sunway 4 9-7 David Menuisier Oisin Murphy 6/1
8 (1) 23 Oxford Comma 4 9-4 Ralph Beckett Hector Crouch 33/1
RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP
2024 Sweet William
2023 Trueshan
2022 Coltrane
2021 Stradivarius
2020 Spanish Mission
2019 Thomas Hobson
2018 Thomas Hobson
2017 Desert Skyline
2016 Sheikhzayedroad D M Simcock Martin Harley Mohammed Jaber 10/3
2015 Pallastaor
2014 Estimate Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore The Queen 11/8 fav
2013 Times Up Ed Dunlop Ryan Moore Mrs I Stewart & M Meacock 3/1
2012 Times Up John Dunlop Eddie Ahern Mrs I Stewart & M Meacock 5/1
2011 Saddler’s Rock John Oxx IRE Niall McCullagh Michael O’Flynn 11/2
2010 Samuel John Gosden William Buick Normandie Stud Ltd 5/1
2009 Askar Tau Marcus Tregoning Ryan Moore Nurlan Bizakov 5/2
2008 Honolulu Aidan O’Brien IRE Johnny Murtagh Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor 15/8 fav
2007 Septimus Aidan O'Brien IRE Johnny Murtagh Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor 11/10 fav
2006 Sergeant Cecil Rod Millman Frankie Dettori Terry Cooper Evens fav
2005 Millenary John Dunlop Richard Quinn Neil Jones 11/4
2004 DH Kasthari Howard Johnson Johnny Murtagh Elliott Bros 14/1
DH Millenary John Dunlop Richard Quinn Neil Jones 7/1
2003 Persian Punch David Elsworth Martin Dwyer Jeff Smith 3/1
2002 Boreas Luca Cumani Jamie Spencer Aston House Stud 7/2
2001 Alleluia Sir Mark Prescott Jamie Mackay Sonia Rogers 14/1
2000 Enzeli John Oxx IRE Johnny Murtagh H H Aga Khan 15/2
1999 Far Cry Martin Pipe Kevin Darley Nicky Chambers 6/1
