'Devastated' Hollie Doyle and Alan King tributes to legendary Trueshan after fatal injury
A 'devastated' Hollie Doyle paid an emotional tribute to legendary stayer Trueshan after he suffered a fatal injury during the Goodwood Cup on Tuesday.
Doyle, 28, owed a huge debt to the Alan King trained star, riding him to ten of his 16 career successes, which included the 2021 edition of Goodwood's 2m Group 1 race. The pair were contesting the race for the fourth time when Trueshan suddenly broke down and was quickly pulled up on the opening day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting.
It subsequently emerged he had suffered a fatal injury, news which cast a pall was cast over the racecourse when it was confirmed that Trueshan had been put down.
James Given, the BHA's director of equine welfare, told ITV Racing: 'I want to express my sincere condolences to all the connections and anyone associated with the horse, no one is going to feel this more than them. He's been a stalwart, he's been a firm friend, he's been everything to them
'What has happened unfortunately is just an accident, mid-race, in a straight line going up a hill. His left-hind pastern broke and left him in a situation that wasn't recoverable from.
'Alan was able to get down there and assess him with the vet and they felt there was no option really but to put him down.'
Doyle's wins on Trueshan included not only the Goodwood Cup, but two wins in the Prix du Cadran, two in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot and an extraordinary success in the Northumberland Plate in which the horse carried 10st 8lb to victory.
She said: 'I'm just devastated. It couldn't be any worse. He was a special, special horse, I can't think of anything else to say. I am gutted. He's been amazing for me, a star, and those memories we have together are some of my very best."
King told Mirror Racing: 'It's a hell of a shock. We have protected him all these years from fast ground for his front tendons and I was happy to run him today.
"He sadly shattered a hind pastern. He just put his foot down slightly wrong and it was a freak injury - it's very rare.
"We will miss him terribly. We have organised he will be cremated and come back to Barbury Castle with some of the old superstars like Katchit and Viking Flagship.
"He won 16 from 35 races, over £2million in prize money and took us to some wonderful places. He's a kind horse and nice person.
"The team at home will be devastated - I am sorry for everyone and the owners have been wonderful.
"To say we don't care, you couldn't be further from the truth. I have had more than 100 messages and I am grateful to everybody.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Gosdens lament Field Of Gold's lacklustre Sussex run
The Juddmonte-owned grey was the 1-3 favourite as he came into the race having won both Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes this season, so was bidding for a Group One hat-trick with a new rider in the saddle as William Buick replaced the suspended Colin Keane. Juddmonte's second-string, the Ralph Beckett-trained Qirat, was the mount of Richard Kingscote and employed as a pacemaker, albeit a useful one, as was Aidan O'Brien's Serengeti, who looked set to lead stablemate Henri Matisse into the race. Those two did indeed settle into the lead, but as the race developed it became apparent that the favourite could not close the gap and he finished an eventual fourth when three and three-quarter lengths behind 150-1 winner Qirat. John Gosden told ITV Racing: 'He's done nothing wrong and actually the other pacemaker (Serengeti) got left (at the start), he comes round and finally they are going a pace. We are sitting a long way behind, that's life and the pacemaker goes and wins it. 'If you let them have those fractions they will do it, he ran on but he didn't seem to be balanced on the track, it's a different type of track to what he has ever run on and he just got a little unbalanced coming out of the dip into the bend. I'm not making any excuses, you ignore the pacemaker and pay the price. 'He ran a huge race in the Guineas (when runner-up at Newmarket) and was flying at the finish, but he was not flying at the finish so there's a very big difference. He wasn't at his best so we will have to see why. He is having a normal blow so we will have a good look. 'William said as soon as he asked him the engine wasn't there, simple as that. He would have run on to be up there with Rosallion, but he didn't fire today.' Thady Gosden added: 'Congratulations to Ralph and Juddmonte of course for winning, but obviously it was a messy race and I think we can put a line through it. 'We saw he quickened up well but it was too late on, Rosallion was in a good position in front of us and he didn't quite get there as they'd got a bit of rope in front. 'Hopefully he comes out of it OK, we know how talented he is and today wasn't a true reflection of his ability. We'll move on. 'We could see what was unfolding for us a mile out, but obviously it is great for Juddmonte to have a home bred winner.' Richard Hannon's 11-2 shot Rosallion was the runner-up under Sean Levey, beaten a neck after giving chase to the runaway Qirat. Hannon said: 'It's pride, not frustration, but what does he have to do to win? 'Sean did the right thing and moved closer to the pacemakers, and he's run a super race but didn't win. It's life, isn't it? 'He's a great horse, his day has already come and there are other days to come. He's certainly not done with. 'He's beaten the best three-year-old we've seen for years and also the French Guineas winner (Henri Matisse). 'It's not a great day when you are second in these races but we are very lucky to be part of it. We have an extremely good horse and he went down fighting.' Henri Matisse, also an 11-2 chance, was third under Ryan Moore when beaten two and a half lengths, with stablemate Serengeti eventually last of the seven runners. O'Brien said: 'Obviously (Serengeti) was there to make sure it was an even gallop and he missed the break, so Wayne (Lordan) had to let him relax and give him a chance. 'He came round the field wide and then when he joined up with the other pacemaker, the winner, he pulled back off and so Wayne was left making the running, but well done to everyone. 'We are very happy with Henri Matisse. We think we haven't got him really right yet, but we think we are getting there. Every time he runs we are learning more, and we were happy with him here other than he didn't win, obviously. 'Sean's (Levey) horse (Rosallion) just came down the outside of him and took a couple of lengths out of him quickly, Ryan just said that coming down the hill at Goodwood it just took him a little time to get organised as he's a baby three-year-old. He felt he wasn't finished with and there's more to come. 'We think he's a miler, but Ryan thinks he'll stay further. We'll see how he is but he could go back to France for the mile races and could end up in America for their mile races, or he could go up in trip, although we've never thought he was short of pace.'
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Scandinavia sees off Illinois for Ballydoyle one-two in Goodwood Cup
The Aidan O'Brien-trained stable companions dominated the betting, so while Scandinavia was discarded by Ryan Moore, Wayne Lordan's mount was still only a 4-1 shot following his victory in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket. Illinois attempted to make all but Scandinavia drew upsides over a furlong out and the two had it between them, with the concession of 14lb ultimately proving too much for Moore's mount, who went down by three-quarters of a length. Sweet William stayed on for a never-nearer third. A Ballydoyle 1-2 Scandinavia wins the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup 🏆#ITVRacing | @Goodwood_Races — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 29, 2025 O'Brien immediately signalled the St Leger at Doncaster as the big aim for his winner. 'Wayne gave him a lovely ride – in the race at Ascot (Queen's Vase) he was trapped six wide all the way and then at Newmarket Ryan said he felt like a very good horse,' he said. 'Illinois went out there in front and looked to have the race won, but then the other horse got him. 'We went to the Gold Cup (with Illinois) without a preparation and I know we haven't seen the best of him. 'Scandinavia is a typical Justify, he just won't lie down, he puts his head down and won't be beaten. 'Lambourn didn't go to the King George as we had one eye on York for him. It's all out in the open and this horse is ready made for the Leger, which is where he will go. 'He (Scandinavia) travelled very well through the race, he has a great mind. Lambourn can go for the Voltigeur and then maybe for the Arc.' O'Brien was also pleased with the performance of the runner-up, feeling his best is still to come. He added: 'I thought Ryan did everything perfect today on Illinois. He was out there and had the race won, and then the other horse just came and got him. 'I don't think we've seen the best of Illinois yet because I think we went to the Gold Cup a year too early and his preparation wasn't right to win a Gold Cup. 'He ran an unbelievable race, and he'll have the rest of the season, but often when that happens it can stop the progression you would really want to come. I really think we haven't seen the best of him yet.' Alan King's hugely popular Trueshan, winner of the race in 2021, was pulled up sharply by Hollie Doyle at halfway, with news sadly emerging his injury had proved to be a fatal one. Of the placed horses, Josh Gosden said of Sweet William: 'He ran a very brave race and we couldn't be more pleased with him. He'll go to York and Doncaster now. 'A galloping track suits him, maybe a fiddly one like this doesn't. Aidan's runners controlled the early easy fractions. When they do that they are very hard to catch.' Sunway was for fourth for locally-based David Menuisier, who said: 'He was beaten fair and square, but he stays well and did his best. There was no excuse. He is just behind the best at a mile and a half to two miles. As long as Aidan turns up we will be settling for the places. I am thinking he could go for the Prix Kergorlay and maybe the Cadran, try to meet the French rather than the British.'
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Westridge powers clear in Chesterfield Cup
Trained by John and Thady Gosden and ridden by Billy Loughnane, the four-year-old has been faring well in handicaps recently and started a 6-1 chance in a field of 18. From stall eight he hit his stride quickly and after a prominent passage through the race he took up the lead in the final furlong, then pulling clear of the chasing pack to score by an eventual three and a quarter lengths. 'He enjoyed the space around him today and Billy gave him a lovely ride. It is not easy in a big handicap field but he broke well and made use of him,' said John Gosden. 'He is owned by Glen Manchester, my wife and Nicholas Wrigley, so it's a proper partnership. 'We did have him in the July sales but wisely we chose to take him out three days before the sale, thank God we did that. 'He's a grand horse and he's done well, the handicapper will get him now but to win the Chesterfield Cup is a dream come true because Glen is very much Goodwood orientated. 'It'll have to be York now though I'm not sure which race, Mr Wrigley will demand it. Rachel is just the silent partner, she does whatever they want!' Ruth Carr's Brazen Bolt made the long journey from Yorkshire to Sussex worthwhile with success in the Coral Golden Rewards Shaker Handicap, where he prevailed by a nose at 28-1 under Warren Fentiman. Peter Furr, Doncaster-based winning owner-breeder, said: 'He has been an unbelievable horse. We have bred a few horses but nothing like him. He went to Bahrain and won last year and when he came back he was not very well. 'He had ulcers, a bad tummy, stress, everything. Me and my daughter got him back and had him on a nebuliser. We took him to Ruth this season and she has been fantastic. 'We didn't expect to win at York last time and we came here today thinking it would be really firm ground and when it wasn't we didn't expect this again. It doesn't happen to people like us.' Stellar Sunrise got off the mark for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes. The Space Blues colt had been placed in both starts prior to his Goodwood run, and that experience served him well as he came to the fore at 6-1 to win by a length and a quarter from evens favourite Naval Light. 'He had the experience, and I think the draw helped as well,' said Balding. 'He was given an astute ride, as the stands rail was definitely an advantage in a big field with these younger horses. 'He'd shown a fair level of form in his previous races, but he's getting more streetwise and he was very professional today. 'We'll look at nurseries now and we'll find out more next Tuesday (when he is given a rating).' Roger Varian's Protest built on recent Listed efforts to make a winning handicap debut in the Ridgeview Fillies' Handicap over a mile. The Cheveley Park Stud owned and bred chestnut struck at 11-2, steered by Silvestre de Sousa to a one-length win.
