After a successful return to action after a short break in the Group Two Doncaster Cup at the St Leger meeting trainer Alan King is now aiming his superstar stayer at a second win in the Group One Prix du Cadran in France.
Having won the Group Two Long Distance Cup on British Champions Day in 2020 at the end of the campaign it firmly put Trueshan in the mix for a go at the staying races last season.
His dominant display over two miles on soft ground at Ascot in October of that year saw him go off second favourite for the Ormonde Stakes at Chester but found the trip and course too taxing for speed to get the better of Japan.
Missing the Gold Cup due to the underfoot conditions, he instead tried to shoulder top weight in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle, but a rating of 118 left him giving away too much weight to the rest of the field.
Since then he has waited on for his perfect conditions and got that in the Group Two Goodwood Cup where he went on to rout a good field of stayers by close to four lengths.
Skipping the Doncaster Cup he headed into the Group One Prix Du Cadran in France and getting his ideal trip and ground he went to battle with Stradivarius and beat him by close to five lengths.
He was then seen winning back to back renewals of the Group Two Long Distance Cup at Ascot cementing himself as the best stayer throughout the season.
Starting last season at Nottingham when taking the Listed Further Flight Stakes ahead of the talented Quickthorn, he then missed his engagement in the Gold Cup due to the ground and instead was sent to Newcastle for the Northumberland Plate.
Running off a top weight of 10st 8lb giving two stone to the second he went on to take 20 runner handicap, putting up a superb staying performance.
Looking to make it a hat-trick of wins for the season he went into the Goodwood Cup but could only finish third behind Kyprios, running a cracker but the ground ultimately too quick for him.
Sit back and enjoy @HollieDoyle1 and Trueshan's amazing Doncaster Cup in full! pic.twitter.com/gkPepfiIxm
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 15, 2023
He rounded out the season with a neck second to Coltrane in the Doncaster Cup but he then reversed the form at Ascot when taking a third straight Long Distance Cup.
Back for another term this year, he started off again at Nottingham and was a shock second behind Rajinsky.
He underperformed once again at Ascot when last seen in the Group Three Sagaro Stakes back in fourth but having been off for 135 days, given a wind operation and returning to soft ground at Doncaster, he got back to his best by landing the Group Two Doncaster Stakes.
He did nearly everything wrong during the race, but under a superb ride by Hollie Doyle stayed better than the pack to take the race and his trainer is now eyeing a trip to France for more Group One glory.
(Credit ATR) King said: “He did quite a lot wrong because he was so fresh. Surprised (by the win) I’m not so sure, but it was a certainly a relief more than anything.“
Obviously the wind op has helped big time. In his previous two races he hadn’t finished off at all so we were hoping it would make a difference, but you always want to see them go and do it on the track.
“We were delighted with him, I don’t know how strong the piece of form was but it certainly was a huge step to getting back towards his best.”
He added: “I’m going to try to get him to the Cadran. I’m away this week, but the boys at home seem pretty happy with him. He’s had two or three days on the water treadmill, which he loves.
“He will be back cantering at the end of the week, we’ll be doing a bit of work early next week and if everyone is happy, he’ll head to France.
“We did do the Cadran and Ascot a couple of years ago when there was only a fortnight between them and there’s three weeks this time, which gives me a bit more of a chance.
“We’ll go one stage at a time, but if I’m happy with him he’ll head to Longchamp.”