Trueshan: 'He can quicken after a long way and just power away, it’s relentless'

Fans' Favourites is a weekly feature in the Racing Post Weekender in which we talk to those closest to racing's most popular horses and find out why they tug on our heartstrings. This week's subject: Trueshan

As brilliant seasons go, 2021 was an epic one for Trueshan. Two heroic performances saw him plunder Group 1 prizes and at the glittering Cartier Awards ceremony he beat Stradivarius to the champion stayer title. However, for his connections it is the one race in which he did not feature that is the priority in 2022.

Trueshan was all set for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last year, but the soft-ground specialist did not get his opportunity to shine at Flat racing’s most iconic meeting after conditions were deemed too quick by trainer Alan King.

The ground was far from surprising in the middle of June but hours after Subjectivist waltzed to victory the track was hit by such a deluge that it put the meeting in doubt. It could have all been so different and it brings back bad memories for part-owner Andrew Gemmell.

“It was most frustrating,” he recalls. “He was all ready to go and it just never happened. It was disappointing, especially as when we did take him out it started tipping it down.

“I’d been keeping track of the weather, hearing from the jockeys who were out there. It had been so dry in the build-up we did think there was little chance [he would run] but good ground would have been fine. It was difficult, but luckily things did turn in our favour eventually.”

Gemmell is speaking from a busy Dublin airport. He is in Ireland following his beloved Paisley Park, the horse who made his name and silks so famous in the jumps sphere. Yet he was close to having another top-class jumper as part of his involvement in the Singula Partnership, the owners of Trueshan, whose aspirations were initially over obstacles.

Hollie Doyle steers Trueshan to Champions Day glory at Ascot in October 2020Credit: Mark Cranham

Fortunately, Trueshan was a little too good. It was the performances on the racecourse which made connections steer clear of the jumping code. On just his second start, when sent off at 33-1, he got off the mark at Wolverhampton. He soon took on the runner-up again at Ffos Las and extended his advantage. That horse, Caravan Of Hope, would go on to win the Northumberland Plate.

Trueshan was proving a force over a mile and a half, landing the Old Rowley Cup in emphatic style before showing a combination of class and bravery to fend off the talented Hamish in a valuable conditions stakes at Newbury. Having collected more than £125,000 in his three-year-old season, a career over obstacles was parked.

“We won a lot of money that season,” Gemmell reflects. “The Newmarket race was great and then he beat Hamish, which looked really good form.

“I’ve been involved with him since the start and we thought he was going to be a chaser, but he ran really well, then again and it exploded from there. Over the winter all the talk was about whether he would go hurdling. The answer was no. That Newmarket win cemented it I think, it was all clear-cut then.

“I’ve always liked jump and Flat racing, so the days we’ve had with Trueshan were fantastic. I’ve found myself in brilliant dilemmas. A few weeks ago I had to find a way to get to Ascot on Wednesday to see him and then fly out to Ireland to watch Paisley Park the next day. I made all kinds of arrangements. Trueshan didn’t run but I got to Ireland in time.”

The following season was planned around a shot at the Ebor. Trueshan arrived at York off the back of a decisive Listed win and, despite being August in sunny Yorkshire, the soft ground was to his liking too.

“It just didn’t happen for some reason,” Gemmell says. “I don’t know, he just didn’t seem to be right. Some people had said jockey error but I wasn’t sure at all. It was amazing that we had the ground but that’s all hindsight and he just had an off day. What he did next confirmed that he did really like soft ground and that he was a very good horse.”

From that moment, the course of Trueshan’s career would change immensely. A confidence-boosting victory over Withhold at Salisbury set him up for a first shot at Group level on Champions Day at Ascot. No adjustment to his new setting was required as he moved strongly into the race and forged clear to see off the Classic-winning Search For A Song by seven and a half lengths.

In a matter of minutes, Trueshan had developed from an interesting outsider in leading staying races to a genuine top-class contender. Stradivarius had dominated the division but suddenly a new challenger was fancied to take his crown.

A season tailored around tackling the big prizes in 2021 started at Chester in the Ormonde Stakes. He went down fighting to Japan, giving him 5lb and running over a distance that was always in the favour of the two-time Group 1 winner. Once again he had enhanced his reputation but that big day at Ascot didn't come.

Yet those lows made the highs a lot more immense. His day did not come in the Northumberland Plate while, ironically, soft ground meant Stradivarius failed to appear for the Goodwood Cup. With conditions in his favour on the south coast it was Trueshan’s turn to shine.

Trueshan and Hollie Doyle return after winning the Goodwood Cup last JulyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Sent off 6-5 favourite, he moved sweetly and kicked clear at the two-furlong pole to record a first Group 1 success for himself and his trainer.

Gemmell says: “It was all just fantastic. The gods were on our side this time with the weather and he absolutely sluiced up. Winning a Group 1 was so special. I was very confident, though. It was great to give Kingy a first Group 1 too and I assure you we all particularly enjoyed it.”

Connections campaigned him carefully, avoiding the Lonsdale and Doncaster Cups, both with official going descriptions of good to firm. That certainly was not the case at Longchamp in October, however, and this time Stradivarius was in opposition.

The highly anticipated duel between two of Britain’s finest, which had been almost a year in the making, would take place on a very soft surface. Two went clear with Stradivarius in front of the pack, tracking, and with Frankie Dettori continually peering over his shoulder to spot James Doyle’s every move.

From the turn into the home straight Dettori needed not to look as the two staying stars eyeballed and were locked in battle in the concluding stages of a gruelling two and a half miles. It was ferocious and tense for all involved, but as the line came Trueshan was the one who was clear.

Trueshan makes a winning return in the Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham in AprilCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Gemmell says: “He’s got a really sharp turn of foot and that’s a great commodity in a stayer. He can quicken after a long way and just power away – it’s relentless at times. He’s a phenomenal horse and I suppose the great thing about him is that we can carry on for a few more seasons.

“Those big days you really enjoy. I’ll always treasure the day we won the Prix du Cadran. Beating Stradivarius was incredible, he had no excuses. I think we’re looking forward to a long and good season again with him.”

Having defended his Champions Day crown and returned this season with victory at Nottingham, Trueshan is ready to go for Gold.

“Absolutely, we can’t wait,” Gemmell says confidently about his eagerness to head to Royal Ascot. “There are one or two good improving stayers about, and Stradivarius will be there too, so it should be a really interesting Gold Cup. Hollie [Doyle] was happy with him at Nottingham and she thinks he’s stronger on the gallops, so it’s all looking good.”

Read more from our Fans' Favourites series:

Sky Lantern: 'She was always a bit different - very elegant'

Martha's Son: 'Put him on a racetrack and he'd find three more gears'

Desert Orchid: 'People thought it was an act of lunacy to run over three miles'

Denman: 'He could pick you up and chuck you out the box or take your arm off'

Looks Like Trouble: 'When he started to deliver he was damn-near invincible'

Don't miss the Racing Post Royal Ascot Guide 2022. Only £14.99, the 192-page guide is packed with tips and information for the five-day festival of top-class Flat racing, including profiles of the leading horses and the lowdown on the top trainers and jockeys. Order your copy here or call 01933 304858.