Trawlerman Emerged Unscathed from the Battle and Now Targets Goodwood

After his extraordinary performance in the Ascot Gold Cup, the veteran stayer returned in perfect condition and already has in his sights a possible rematch against Scandinavia

BERKSHIRE, England (Special for Turf Diario).– Barely a head denied Trawlerman the chance to become a back-to-back winner of the Ascot Gold Cup (G1), but the extraordinary performance by the veteran Godolphin runner left such a positive impression that his team is already thinking about new challenges.

As confirmed this Friday by Thady Gosden, joint-trainer alongside his father John, the son of Golden Horn emerged in excellent condition from the demanding battle he endured with Scandinavia (Justify) over the 4000 meters of the most important race for stayers on the European calendar.

"It was a very tough race. Two and a half miles on that ground and with the heat we had represent an enormous demand. But he came out of it very well; this morning he was full of energy and is moving perfectly," Gosdencommented.

The trainer explained that the horse will now have a few days of rest before defining the next steps of a campaign that began in a very unique way, without a prep race and after going through serious physical issues during the European spring.

"He is very happy with himself, so we'll give him a few quiet days and then decide where he will run. Obviously, Goodwood appears as the logical objective," he added.

If the plans materialize, the prestigious Goodwood Cup (G1), scheduled for next July 28, could offer an immediate rematch against Scandinavia, the horse that thwarted his title defense at Ascot after a thrilling duel that kept thousands of spectators in suspense.

The mere possibility of that new confrontation is especially significant when considering that months ago, Trawlerman's sporting continuity seemed seriously compromised.

During the preparation for the season, the stayer developed an eye condition that caused him severe discomfort under prolonged exposure to sunlight. The problem forced a complete modification of his daily routine and was the reason why he appeared wearing the now-famous dark goggles during the Gold Cup preliminaries.

"He doesn't actually live in a dark box; he is simply stabled under some trees and receives less direct light. What happens is that he has sensitivity to prolonged exposure to the sun," Gosden explained.

Despite those difficulties, Trawlerman delivered possibly one of the best performances of his entire career, putting one of Europe's most in-form horses against the ropes in his seasonal debut.

"I am sure he will tell us himself when he wants to do something else. For now, he loves training, enjoys racing, and clearly retains all his ability," Gosden affirmed. "What he did in his season debut was phenomenal. He is an enthusiastic horse every day, both in training and in races."

At 8 years old, and after having been on the brink of forced retirement due to physical issues, Trawlerman proved once again at Ascot that he still belongs to the elite of European staying. And if his recovery continues along this path, Goodwood could be the perfect setting for a new chapter in his thrilling rivalry with Scandinavia.