By Duane Fonseca
Alan King’s Trueshan justified his billing as favourite for the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Cadran with a rather effortless show at ParisLongchamp on Saturday.
The 7yo Planteur gelding got everything right under Hollie Doyle, the pair bidding to win the race for the second time, having first secured victory in 2021 when beating the mighty Stradivarius by four and a half lengths.
Trueshan and Doyle took in a 10th success together when hitting the front leaving the stalls and remaining at the head of affairs all the way to the finish.
The triple Group 2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup winner was keen throughout, just like when winning the Doncaster Cup two weeks ago when Doyle was forced to allow him to do his own thing, and she was on board to see him finish with a length-and-a-quarter to spare in the 3600m contest.
In the French capital, there seemed a better understanding between rider and horse and once that became evident, there was hardly anything the rest of their five rivals could do.
Turning for home, Trueshan was at least two lengths ahead with Aidan O’Brien’s Emily Dickinson striving to close under Ryan Moore, but once pressure was applied from Stephane Wattel’s Moon Wolf, it was clear they were going to run out of steam.
Trueshan, however, continued to find more and kicked further clear to win by four lengths.
Moon Wolf was second under Alexis Pouchin for the French, with Irish raider Run For Oscar, trained by Charles Byrnes and ridden by Cristian Demuro, a further three-and-a-half lengths back in third. It was a third top-tier success for Trueshan.
His trainer King did not travel to France but said: “I had a busy morning at home, and I’ve just walked into Newmarket, but obviously I’m thrilled.
“I spoke to Hollie this morning and we thought there wasn’t going to be much pace in the race. We said if that was the case, we’d let him bowl along in front and he obviously loved it.
“He was more settled than he was at Doncaster and I think that was firstly because that run just knocked the freshness off him and second he just settled well in front today. We were struggling with him in the early part of the year, but the little wind operation we gave him has clearly helped and it looks like he’s right back to his best.”
Trueshan will now look to win the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot for the fourth straight time on October 21.
King declared: “The good thing is we have a fresh horse for the back end of the season and obviously we hope to go back to Ascot in three weeks’ time to win that race for a fourth time.”
Doyle believes Trueshan is now running at his best.
“I was a little worried about the ground, but he got into a beautiful rhythm. My mum and dad are here and I don’t think my dad has seen me ride a Group One winner, so it’s extra special,” she said.
“I was disappointed at Doncaster, to be honest. I didn’t get a sense of happiness like I had today because to me he did it the wrong way round at Doncaster, whereas today he was foot perfect.”
Road smooth as Silk for Sea in Royallieu
In what turned out to be a good day for Britain, William Haggas landed the 2800m Group 1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu, the co-feature event on the card, for the second straight year.
Haggas won 12 months ago with Sea La Rosa, also owned by Sunderland Holding LLC, with Sea Silk Road supplying the Newmarket-based trainer with victory this time around, striking on his third appearance at the top level.
Lemaitre rode the 4yo Sea The Stars filly at the back of the field to a pace set by O’Brien’s Library and expertly led her into space after hitting the straight.
Shaking her up with a little under 400m to run, Sea Silk Road engaged top stride and hit the front 250m out. There was little her rivals could do after that as she quickened to win by three lengths from Julien Carayon’s Diva Donna, the ride of Jerome Moutard.
A further length and a half back in third was Jean-Claude Rouget’s La Mehana.
Saturday’s programme got underway with the Group 2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay which was won by Christophe Ferland’s Double Major by three quarters of a length under Maxime Guyon, who completed a Group 2 double when landing the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein by two lengths aboard Simon and Ed Crisford’s Poker Face.
Trainer Patrice Cottier and jockey Mickael Barzalona scored in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Dollar with race favourite Horizon Dore.
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