'His win might silence a few critics' - Alan King has dig at Trueshan detractors

Alan King hopes Trueshan was able to "silence a few critics" with his third straight win in the British Champions Long Distance Cup on Saturday.

The top-class stayer had been beaten a neck by Coltrane when 2-9 favourite for the Doncaster Cup last month, causing some to suggest he had a bit to prove at Ascot.

His trainer had attributed that effort, which came little more than two months after an astonishing success off 10st 8lb and a BHA mark of 120 in the Northumberland Plate, down to the after-effects of his run on unsuitably quick ground in the Goodwood Cup.

Trueshan turned the tables on Coltrane in the Long Distance Cup, battling to victory by a head.

Alan King: 'He's finished for the season now'

King said on Sunday: "His win might silence a few critics. I couldn't believe that they were writing him off yesterday on the back of one run – and when you saw what Coltrane did yesterday, it wasn't such a bad effort at Doncaster after all."

Trueshan's 13th win from 21 starts was his fifth in Group 1 or 2 company, taking his earnings past £1.5 million, but the six-year-old gelding will have to wait until 2023 to add to that haul.

Watch Trueshan win the Long Distance Cup

King said: "He's finished for the season now. The Prix Royal-Oak is next Sunday and that is way too soon. He'd have gone there only if he hadn't run yesterday.

"He's fine after the race. He's got a couple of nicks behind but nothing to worry about."

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