High-Class Stayer Trawlerman Retired From Racing

Godolphin's staying flagbearer Trawlerman (IRE) has been retired after exiting his runner-up finish in the July 28 Goodwood Cup Stakes (G1) with a leg injury. The curtain has finally come down on a glittering career which yielded 11 victories from 25 races, two of which were at group 1 level, including his memorable success over stablemate Sweet William (IRE) in last year's Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. The 8-year-old Golden Horn (GB) gelding won more than £2.1 million in prize money during his time with John and Thady Gosden, since he finished third in a 1 1/4-mile novice at Chelmsford in November 2020. His Gold Cup triumph under William Buick came in the midst of a four-race unbeaten run in 2025, which ended with a second success in the British Champions Long Distance Cup Stakes (G1) in October at Ascot Racecourse on Champions Day. This season, the son of former Gosden great Golden Horn had looked as good as ever after running a remarkable race on his return from an eight-month layoff when denied a second Gold Cup by just a head in a thrilling battle with Scandinavia in June. His final run came when he finished second to the same rival in a messy race in the Goodwood Cup. He was under consideration to attempt back-to-back wins in the upcoming Lonsdale Cup Stakes (G2) at York Racecourse until his injury came to light. John Gosden said: "Trawlerman is happy and well, but unfortunately he came out of the Goodwood Cup with a leg issue and is now being retired. "At 8 years old, he has become part of the family here and won the Long Distance Cup twice and the Gold Cup in a very fast record time, which is unlikely to be equaled, as well as the Ebor. "He has won over £2 million in prize money and remained at the top of his game this year when second in the Gold Cup, beaten a head giving 1 pound to the winner." Trawlerman, who also raced in Dubai and Saudi Arabia during the seven years he was in training at Clarehaven Stables, is to be retired to a familiar location just outside Newmarket, where he will join another recently retired Godolphin stalwart, Rebel's Romance (IRE). Gosden said: "He will be retired to Wood Ditton Stud, where Godolphin have wonderful facilities that he knows well, having been there for holiday. "For all of us at Clarehaven Stables, just like Stradivarius, Trawlerman has become a much-loved member of the family and there are a lot of people here who will miss him, particularly Ben de Paiva, who looks after him and Richard Wilkinson, who rode him through most of his career." Jockey William Buick, whose first ride on the popular stayer came when the pair were second to Kyprios (IRE) in the 2024 Gold Cup, said he was "very thankful" to have had the opportunity to partner him on nine occasions. "He ran in three Gold Cups, finished second in two and won one, and he was a joy to ride," he said. "He wore his heart on his sleeve, and turned up each time he ran. He was very consistent and a credit to John and Thady and the team at Clarehaven. "He's 8 now, but he won the Gold Cup at 7 when beating younger horses. He's still been performing at a very high level, and that takes a bit of doing. It takes a horse with a great constitution."