'To do it that way round was pretty extraordinary' - Trueshan bounces back with remarkable display

The Doncaster Cup has been run since the new king on the throne was George III rather than Charles III but in all that time there have not been many more remarkable races than this.

Even Hollie Doyle admitted it was "pretty extraordinary" how Trueshan signalled a return to form with one of the most unusual victories of his long and highly successful career.

The jockey had won a Goodwood Cup and a Northumberland Plate under a monstrous weight on the Alan King-trained stayer yet her mount came into this race under a cloud, having undergone a wind operation following two below-form efforts this season.

Redemption, in a contest in which he was beaten into second place at 2-9 last year, looked long odds against as he fought for his head through the first half of the contest, refusing to settle and racing much too keenly as Ryan Moore set just a steady pace on Broome.

Trueshan pulled hard in the early stages before being unleashed by Hollie DoyleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Even though the Cup has been reduced in trip from four miles to two and a quarter miles since it was first run in 1766, that is still much too far for a hard-pulling horse to last home so Doyle tore up her pre-race plans.

She let Trueshan have his head and sent him to the front over four furlongs out then raced alone up the centre in the home straight. Her mount drifted slightly left when joined over a furlong out but showed he had lost none of his tenacity by leading again inside the final 200 yards to score by a length and a quarter from Sweet William.

"He's just superior," a joyful Doyle said afterwards. "He's back to his best. To do it that way round was a pretty extraordinary performance.

"He can settle beautifully if he can use himself. But we were going a pedestrian pace and when you're breaking a big horse's stride like that it's never going to end well. I didn't feel like I could win a race on a horse who is that keen. So I just let him bowl along and it was a make or break moment really."

Explaining the decision to come wide of the rest in the straight, she said: "I walked the track and I spoke to the clerk of the course and he did say the ground was better up the middle but obviously it was a bit of a risk because we raced on it yesterday.

Hollie Doyle acknowledges the cheers returning to the winner's enclosure on TrueshanCredit: Edward Whitaker

"And I brought him up the middle because I knew that if I went up the rail they'd come to my girths four or three out and get me racing. It worked out okay!"

Trueshan had finished only fourth when sent off favourite for the Sagaro Stakes in the spring and Doyle believes the wind operation was key.

"It has definitely helped," she said. "He did that with me at Ascot when they hacked round and he curled up a furlong and a half out whereas today he's really proved he's back to his best."

Doyle has won eight times on Trueshan, whose 14th victory overall took his career earnings to nearly £1.65 million.

"I love him to bits," she said. "I've had a fair few spins on him and it's great that I haven't been jocked off yet!"

Hollie Doyle: "I've had a fair few spins on him and it's great that I haven't been jocked off yet!"Credit: Alan Crowhurst

Asked what the trainer had told her about Trueshan's readiness for this test, she said: "He said it was a stepping-stone to the Cadran or Ascot. But he said that before the Northumberland Plate!"

The 2022 winner Coltrane, who had landed the Lonsdale Cup for Andrew Balding at York last month, started 5-4 favourite but finished last of five.

Jockey Oisin Murphy said: "He put up a really top effort at York and he was unable to replicate that today. Let's hope he comes out of the race well."

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