Trawlerman lands a big catch in G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup

Trawlerman gained the biggest success of his career as he gamely denied multiple G1 winner Kyprios in the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot, UK, on Saturday, 21 October.

Having finished third in the two-mile race 12 months ago, the John & Thady Gosden-trained stayer raced in a clear second behind Maxident, with the duo opening up a significant advantage after the first half-mile.

Trawlerman continued to keep tabs on Maxident, some 10 lengths clear of the rest of the field, before moving up to hit the front with just over half a mile to race.

Kyprios was rushed up to join Trawlerman in front with three furlongs left and took up the running at the top of the straight. Frankie Dettori switched Trawlerman out entering the final quarter-mile and the Godolphin runner rallied, regaining the lead half a furlong from home.

Trawlerman continued to find more in front, prevailing by a neck over Kyprios as the front two pulled 13 lengths clear of Sweet William in third.

John Gosden said: “The plan was to go forward, and then we heard that Maxident was going to go very hard, and so the idea was to take a lead from him, use him as a target. The genius of Mr Dettori was not to throw everything at it at the head of the straight, but to come there – Kyprios swept past – and to collect again and come back on the line. I’d say that was superb judgement on his part.

“I knew Trawlerman wasn’t finished in the straight, although I never thought he’d come back up and win. It quite lifted the crowd.”

Frankie Dettori said: “Ryan Moore [on Kyprios] passed me comfortably and I thought he was going to go and win by three lengths but, once he couldn't get away from me, I thought well maybe there's a little bit left here. In fairness, Trawlerman was very professional, a great, great battler."