Trueshan, one of the most popular horses in training, suffered a fatal injury during the Group One Goodwood Cup on Tuesday. The nine-year-old gelding, ridden by Hollie Doyle, sustained a fracture to his left-hind pastern while galloping uphill on the far side of the track. Despite immediate veterinary attention, the injury was not recoverable, and he was put down.
Doyle, who enjoyed a hugely successful partnership with Trueshan, said she was 'devastated'. 'He was a special, special horse,' she added. 'He’s been amazing for me, a star, and those memories we have together are some of my very best.' Trueshan had set off as a 22-1 chance for a repeat of his 2021 win in the race, which was his first Group One success.
James Given, the British Horseracing Authority’s director of equine welfare, described the incident as 'an accident, mid-race, in a straight line going up a hill'. He confirmed that Trueshan had been examined before the race and showed no concerns. Alan King, the trainer, was present as vets assessed the injury and concluded that euthanasia was the only option.
Trueshan’s career spanned 35 starts, including two wins in the Group One Prix du Cadran at Longchamp, the Group Two Doncaster Cup, and three victories in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot. He also produced a memorable handicap performance in the Northumberland Plate in 2022, carrying 10st 8lb to victory.
Meanwhile, Scandinavia, a three-year-old colt trained by Aidan O’Brien, won the Goodwood Cup, becoming the first three-year-old to do so since Stradivarius in 2017. O’Brien praised the horse’s determination, saying, 'They will not lie down. No matter how tired they get, the strides keep going.'
