Champions Day: Trueshan heading straight for Long Distance Cup

Alan King’s Trueshan will not attempt to defend his Prix du Cadran title and will instead be aimed directly at Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot.

The six-year-old was a four-and-a-half-length winner of the Group One last season and then won the Long Distance Cup for a second time.

He will not follow the same path this season, however, and will sit out the Cadran as connections hope rain falls ahead of Ascot and produces his ideal easy going.

“He won’t be ready in time for the Cadran so we will hold off for Ascot, provided the rain comes we will go there,” King said.

“We will worry about everything else when the time comes, we need to make sure the ground is going to be right first.”

Trueshan has enjoyed a gripping rivalry with John and Thady Gosden’s Stradivarius, a hugely popular stayer whose retirement from racing was announced on Monday morning.

Last season’s French success came at the expense of Stradivarius while the pair recently chased home Kyprios in the Goodwood Cup.

King said of the Gosden-trained chestnut: “He was a marvellous racehorse and he will be truly missed.”

Tim Easterby’s Art Power is pencilled in for the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes after a repeat success in the Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

The grey was a runaway winner of the latter Group Three contest last season, streaking home five lengths to the good under David Allan.

The same rider has received the leg-up all season, guiding the horse to fourth in the City Of York Stakes before coming home eighth on unsuitable ground in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Back in Ireland for a repeat Renaissance bid, conditions were this time in the five-year-old’s favour and he ran another gallant race to triumph by three lengths as the evens favourite.

The Champions Sprint now beckons for Art Power, who is owned by King Power Racing, a contest in which the entire son of Dark Angel finished fourth in both 2020 and 2021.

“It was a cracking race, he loves that good ground and he’s such a talented horse,” Easterby said.

“The ground at Haydock was concrete and he just couldn’t go on it, but he was absolutely bang on and we’ll go to Ascot now, all being well.

“Good ground will suit him, he’s all right on good to firm, he just doesn’t like it hard.

“He has run some solid races at Ascot and I’d like him to be in the first three if we can, he’s great.

“He’s a gorgeous horse with a great temperament and he’s good enough to win a Group One.”

Real World looks set to bypass the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot as Saeed bin Suroor feels he “needs more time” following a setback.

The five-year-old scorched to victory in last season’s Hunt Cup from the wrong side of the track at Royal Ascot and went on to land a five-timer, which included a pair of Group Two prizes in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein and Zabeel Mile.

At the top level this term, he has twice had the misfortune to play second fiddle to the unbeaten Baaeed – in the Lockinge and Queen Anne – but has not run since the Royal meeting.

A general 10-1 chance for the QEII over a mile on Qipco British Champions day, Bin Suroor all but ruled out his stable star from the October 15 contest.

“He has worked and he still needs time.” said the Godolphin handler. “He is not ready now to run. As soon as he is, we will find a race for him. He won’t go to the QEII.”

Bin Suroor also revealed that Mawj is not certain to take up her engagement in the Group One Fillies’ Mile after Ray Dawson’s mount finished a length-and-a-half third to Lezoo in the six-furlong Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Mawj, who had Lezoo behind her when taking the Duchess of Cambridge on the July course, may not yet be ready for a step up to a mile, according to her handler.

“She ran a big race and finished third in a Group One, so it was a good result,” said Bin Suroor. “She was close. The filly is tiny, but she has a big heart. She always tries hard and she ran really well.

“I talked to the jockey and you can see she has plenty of speed. At this time of the year, maybe she would prefer six to seven furlongs.

“Next year we will go a mile with her, but we will look for a race for her. Otherwise maybe we might take her back to Dubai.

“We will see about the Fillies’ Mile. In a few days we will make a decision, but at this time it is unlikely. I doubt we will put her up in trip this year.”