Longines Sagaro Stakes |
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| Group 3, Ascot 14:35 £95,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 209y, Class 1  |
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1 Sweet William 5/6F
2
Caballo De Mar 4/1
3
Miss Alpilles 40/1
8 ran NR: Beylerbeyi
Distances: shd, 8l, nk Time: 3m 24.97s (slow by 0.47s
Great tussle!
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 1, 2026
Sweet William shows his class late on to deny Caballo De Mar in the Sagaro Stakes at @Ascot for John & @thadygosden and Rab Havlin... pic.twitter.com/XdNblLqK8o
Sweet William demonstrated that age has done little to diminish his appetite for competition, producing a resolute display to fend off Caballo De Mar in a gripping finish.
A long-standing performer in the staying division for John and Thady Gosden, the seven-year-old returned to action having ended 2025 on a high, with victory in the Doncaster Cup followed by a fine second to stablemate Trawlerman on British Champions Day.
Sent off the 5/6 favourite for his seasonal reappearance, he was given a measured ride by Robert Havlin, who judged the fractions astutely before asking his mount for maximum effort in the closing stages.
The response was wholehearted. Although challenged strongly by Caballo De Mar, Sweet William dug deep to cling on by a short head, the pair pulling well clear of the remainder and confirming their class in a sustained duel to the line.
Thady Gosden said: “He’s a smashing horse and he’s a year older but still retains all his enthusiasm.
“He’s beaten a very good horse there and the front two have come a long way clear of the third.
“He’s a horse who likes to keep you guessing so he was quite happy to stick his head up going up the straight and after two miles round there I think the jockey was having a good blow too afterwards.
“Rab gave him a fantastic ride and knows him like one of his own children at this point and it was a good performance. He hit the front and was happy to stay there rather than go away from the second, but he was in front when it mattered at the line.”
In the wake of the success, Sweet William was shortened to 12/1 from 16/1 for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, a race in which he has already placed third in 2024 and fourth the following year.
Gosden added: “We’ll see how he comes out of it and the natural thing would be to wait for the Gold Cup, but there are other options beforehand. We’ll discuss it with his owner Mrs Philippa Cooper and make a plan.
“He’s a character and he certainly enjoys himself at home, but he also enjoys himself on track too.”
Caballo De Mar also emerged with enhanced credentials, with trainer George Scott taking plenty of encouragement from a performance that suggested further improvement remains within reach.
Scott said: “It was an unbelievable run and a career best giving weight away all round and the perfect trial for the Gold Cup.
“We know he stays two-and-a-half-miles and he was coming back at the winner at the line there giving him 2lb which is a lot over two miles.
“We’re looking forward to June now and he stays so well but for now it’s just disappointing he was beaten on the day.
“He’ll go to France for the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier and he loves his racing. He was too fresh today, he was like a bear today when trying to saddle him, I couldn’t get it on him.
“He’s an amazing, tough horse and I can’t wait to see him back here in a Gold Cup off level weights.”
Longines Sagaro Stakes
£95,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 209y Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
