Sweet William gets sweet revenge in the Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup

Sweet William, named after the owner-breeder’s son, met once again with Trueshan on the track today in the Doncaster Cup. Trueshan beat Sweet William by a length and a quarter last year, but Sweet William reversed the placings this year under Rab Havlin.

Having broken a hind leg as a two-year-old, Sweet William is lucky to be racing at all, and has made a remarkable climb to becoming a top stayer. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, he was sent off at 7-4 favourite in the Group 2 contest.

Widely considered to be a quirky character, Sweet William broke slowly from the starting stalls and was briefly subject to encouragement from jockey Rab Havlin to pick up the bridle during the first furlong of the contest. The prolific Trueshan headed the seven-strong field through the early stages, closely attended to by both Gregory and Coltrane.

Despite the slow pace, Coolmore’s Point Lonsdale was the first of the runners to feel the pressure with Ryan Moore urging the son of Australia forward as early as the half way point.

As the field made the swooping turn into Doncaster’s home straight, the vast majority looked to hold a shouting chance, none more so than past champion Trueshan, who travelled sweetly at the head of affairs under a confident Hollie Doyle.

Rapidly however, the picture changed dramatically as all but Sweet William began to come under a ride, the talented son of Sea The Stars still hard on the bridle underneath a motionless Havlin approaching the penultimate furlong.

Despite often being ridden with the utmost restraint in the past, no jockey could claim to know Phillipa Cooper’s pride and joy on a more intricate basis than the veteran Rab Havlin, having been onboard for all fourteen of the five-year-old’s lifetime starts and the Scotsman sent his mount for home over a furlong from home.

As soon as asked the question, the consistent Sweet William responded in incredibly pleasing fashion, quickly putting distance between himself and his toiling rivals.

All was not yet sealed though, as despite struggling to keep tabs with the main body of the field throughout, Point Lonsdale began to thunder home under Ryan Moore, accompanied by Trueshan and Hollie Doyle who appeared to find a second wind having looked beaten.

Ultimately however, it was to be a sweet success for Rab Havlin, Phillipa Cooper and John & Thady Gosden as Sweet William kept on best to break his QIPCO British Champions Series maiden at the third attempt, comfortably prevailing at the line by a length.

The evergreen Trueshan battled on dourly for second place whilst Point Lonsdale improved on his Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup showing, finishing third.

In the aftermath of claiming a second career series victory, Havlin paid testament to the Normandie Stud bred gelding, stating that “he (Sweet William) showed a good turn of foot to put the race to bed”, further elaborating that “people always forget that he had a horrible injury and that’s mentally the way he has been throughout his career. He always threatened to win a big one, the ability was always there”.

Owner-breeder, Philippa Cooper, had two horses in the race with Sweet William and Gregory, who dominated the betting. The win was all the more sweet, since it was run in memory of racing journalist Howard Wright, who she knew and admired.

Cooper said “I hate it when they run against each other. Having bred them both it’s like having two sons racing against each other in human terms – it’s bittersweet”.

Sweet William now shortens to 6-1 for the QIPCO British Champions Series Long Distance Cup at QIPCO British Champions Day on Saturday 19th October.