Trawlerman Sets Sights on Goodwood Cup Following Heroic Ascot Performance

The runner-up to Scandinavia in an unforgettable Gold Cup could return to action at the end of July. John Gosden confirmed that the stayer is in peak form and also defended the racing industry against new gambling restrictions pushed by the British Government

NEWMARKET, England (Special for Turf Diario).— Trawlerman left behind one of the most striking images of Royal Ascot when he appeared in the paddock sporting an unusual pair of protective goggles to alleviate an ocular condition that leaves him highly sensitive to sunlight. Now, all signs indicate he will continue wearing them if he lines up in the Goodwood Cup (G1), which has been locked in as the next major objective for his team.

The veteran stayer, trained by John and Thady Gosden, made his seasonal debut directly in the grueling Ascot Gold Cup (G1) following a severely abbreviated preparation. Despite the layoff, he came within a mere head of defeating Scandinavia (Justify), fighting tooth and nail alongside Aidan O'Brien's trainee in a thrilling stretch duel that already ranks among the finest renewals in recent memory.

"He is doing very well and continues to go out wearing his glasses," remarked John Gosden with his characteristic sense of humor. "He ran an absolute monster of a race considering his preparation was shorter than usual, and he was also conceding a pound to the winner. Over two and a half miles, an extra pound genuinely makes a difference."

The master trainer acknowledged that the two-mile distance of the Goodwood Cup might prove a tactical sharp turn for his charge, though he firmly left the door open for a starting slot: "He has that crucial peak race fitness under his belt now. He is the type of horse that resembles an old prize fighter—he is always ready to step inside the ring and trade blows," he noted.

Gosden also detailed how his stable is managing the intense heatwave currently sweeping across England, which has sent thermometers soaring past 30 degrees Celsius during the July Festival at Newmarket.

"We are out exercising very early in the morning while it is still fresh. We keep the horses heavily hydrated, using fans, keeping the stable windows wide open, and washing them down with plenty of cold water after their morning works and races. Fortunately, it is a dry heat, which makes it much more manageable for them," he explained.

The veteran conditioner then shifted focus to broader industry matters, launching a fierce critique against the Gambling Commission's decision to press forward with controversial financial affordability checks for British punters.

"We possess an extraordinary industry here, both on the racetrack and within the breeding sector, yet the Government seems completely oblivious to it. They have allowed an independent body like the Gambling Commission to impose these heavy-handed regulations without so much as a proper parliamentary debate," Gosden stated, adding his powerful voice to the growing chorus of concern echoing across all sectors of British racing.