Doncaster Cup: Coltrane favourite for Trueshan rematch
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Coltrane is the 6/4 favourite in Coral’s Doncaster Cup betting odds ahead of his old rival Trueshan for the feature race on day two of the St Leger meeting.
Coltrane took the honours in this race last year and the betting suggests a repeat, although there is little to separate the two, with Trueshan priced at 15/8.
Coral’s David Stevens said: “Having beaten Trueshan in this race 12 months ago, and won the Lonsdale Cup at York last month, Coltrane sets a clear standard among the five stayers lining up for this year’s Doncaster Cup.”
Trainer Andrew Balding expects the ultra-consistent Coltrane to run his usual solid race.
He said: “Coltrane is a real yard favourite and he has had a great season already. He won the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot, he was then second in the Ascot Gold Cup, he ran very well at Goodwood and obviously won the Lonsdale Cup at York last time out.
“The great thing about him is he seems to be effective on any ground and in any sort of style of race, which is a big help for these stayers.
“He obviously won the race last year, but he does carry a penalty this year which makes life a lot tougher.
“If Trueshan is anywhere near his best he will be a very tough opponent and Sweet William is an improving horse as well. It is not a straightforward task, but the horse is really well and he seems to thrive on his racing.”
Trueshan has been a fantastic servant to his connections, with three editions of the Long Distance Cup at Ascot, a Goodwood Cup and the Prix du Cadran featuring on his big-race CV.
The seven-year-old’s well-documented preference for an ease in the ground meant that for the third year in succession he missed the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June and trainer Alan King subsequently opted to give his star stayer a wind operation and a midsummer break in the hope he could bounce back to his best in the autumn.
Friday’s Group Two feature will be Trueshan’s first outing since finishing fourth in Ascot’s Sagaro Stakes in May (pictured below) behind Coltrane.
“We’ve got to get him started, he’s been off a long time,” said King. “We gave him a break after Ascot and he’s ready to start back. I think whatever he does he’s going to come on plenty for it, but I just felt with the rain coming it was worth getting a run into him.
“It’s his first run for a while and his first run since a wind op and sometimes they just need a couple of runs to give them their confidence back. I’m happy with him at home and I just want to see him run well.”
Sweet William completed a hat-trick of wins earlier in the season for John and Thady Gosden before filling the runner-up spot behind Absurde when favourite for the Ebor last month, and is third in the Doncaster Cup betting odds at 10/3.
Robert Havlin has been ever present in the saddle during Sweet William’s seven-race career to date and is looking forward to seeing him step up in class for this Qipco British Champions Series contest.
He said: “Sweet William is probably my best horse this year as he’s won three times and never been out of the first two. We think there’s more improvement to come and we think he might make up into an Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup type of horse next year.
“Since we put blinkers on he’s been ultra consistent. It was obviously another great run in the Ebor, but I was gutted when Frankie (Dettori, on Absurde) got back up after I’d headed him.
“He’s won over two miles and the Ebor was obviously a drop back in trip. He gets the trip well so there are a lot of positives, especially after all the rain. He doesn’t need soft ground, but he handles it very well.”
Aidan O’Brien’s Broome and the Ian Williams-trained The Grand Visir complete the five-strong field.
Doncaster Cup betting odds
6/4 Coltrane
15/8 Trueshan
10/3 Sweet William
11/1 Broome
40/1 The Grand Visir
All odds and market correct at date of publication
