May 01 / 14.15 Ascot

14.15

Soft

Longines Sagaro Stakes (Group 3) (A Gold Cup Trial)

  • Prize money: £45368
  • 1m 7f 209y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Longines Sagaro Stakes (Group 3) (A Gold Cup Trial)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 3155-0 CD

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
One of the top British stayers in 2022 and 2023, during which many of his top performances were registered at this track; won this race last year; the big difference between this and previous campaigns is that this time he has been to Dubai and he ran poorly, which also followed two modest efforts (one here) to end 2023; cheekpieces are enlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(3)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Coltrane

9st 7lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Stalwart of the staying scene, including with a win in this race in 2022 and a creditable fourth in 2024; both were on good to soft (beaten nearly 4l by Sweet William last year) and there was a lesser show on soft ground in the 2023 renewal; not quite as good as he was and he was dropped to a Listed race when winning ten weeks ago when last seen; major place contender if the ground isn't soft.

12/1

3

(5)

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

16:45 Sandown

Coltrane

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Andrew Balding

Four-time Group winner; well held in the Gold Cup most recently; two attempts over C&D comprise a success in this contest in 2022 and respectable second in Group 3 on penultimate start; solid chance back down in class.

9/2

5th

1

(6)

19th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Coltrane

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Stalwart of the top staying races who was at his best in 2023 but not far off it on two occasions in 2024, in a very mixed campaign; runner-up in two four-runner races this season, with latest start better than the first but he was still no match for Trawlerman; second and fifth in the last two Gold Cups and others will have to underperform if he's to win it.

33/1

10/1

  • Place: £3.70

Form: 56231-

Last run: 192 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Big majority of her career has been in handicaps, with plenty of success, but she ended last season on a new high when scoring by 4l from the front in a Group 3 at Saint-Cloud (1m6f, very soft); needs to find extra again and going beyond 1m6f is also something new.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(4)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 7f 127y

Class 1

13:20 Ascot

Caius Chorister

9st 6lb

J: James Doyle

T: David Menuisier

Ended 2023 with French 1m6f Group 3 win from the front (very soft); raised her game again this season upped to 2m (held up) in Group 3s on first two outings, beaten a head by Sweet William on second occasion (soft); however, she's not lived up to those performances, usually racing too freely.

66/1

2nd

8

(3)

31st Aug 2024

Good

1m 6f 87y

Class 1

15:15 Chester

Caius Chorister

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: David Menuisier

Ended last term with a 1m6f French Group 3 win from the front and raised her game again this season when upped to 2m (held up) in Group 3s on first two outings; raced far too freely in the 2m4f Ascot Gold Cup and disappointed when she again raced freely and reverted to front-running at Goodwood four weeks ago; the one to beat judged on initial form this term and James Doyle riding her for the first time is interesting.

5/2

4th

1

(4)

3rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

Caius Chorister

9st 9lb

J: Harry Bentley

T: David Menuisier

Won at this meeting in 2022; ended last term with a 1m6f French Group 3 win from the front and better form again this season when upped to 2m and beaten a head in Group 3s at Ascot and Sandown; raced far too freely in the 2m4f Ascot Gold Cup on latest outing but looks a major player today.

11/4

Form: 11223-

Last run: 193 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Sported headgear from the outset (also ridden by Rab Havlin all starts); progressed from handicaps to Group 2 races for final two starts last term when giving Trueshan plenty to think about in the Doncaster Cup (2m2f, soft) and below-form third at this track; needs extra but he's relatively lightly raced (nine races) and may well have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(4)

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

18:12 Sandown

Sweet William

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won this in 2024 and has added three more Group-race wins, the latest on reappearance in this month's Sagaro Stakes at Ascot (2m, good to firm) where he was clear with subsequent Group 1 winner Caballo De Mar; leading claims despite 5lb penalty.

Evs

1st

2

(9)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

14:35 Ascot

Sweet William

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running, including at this track; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last September when winning his second Doncaster Cup and the same seems to apply today, so he's a leading player.

2/1

2

(4)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

12:55 Ascot

Sweet William

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running and was third and second in the last two runnings of this race; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last month when winning his second Doncaster Cup and while he had the edge over third-placed Trawlerman in this 12 months ago, he's found that rival too tough to crack in their two clashes this season.

5/1

OUR TIP

3/1

Form: 24114- CD

Last run: 193 days

W: 9st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Still takes a strong hold; among his many big-race wins are the 2020, 2021 and 2022 editions of the Long Distance Cup over C&D in October; ended 2023 with a disappointing show in the same race, followed by wind surgery; that seemed to turn him round after second start last term but conceding 7lb to all of this field may be tough.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(7)

29th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:05 Goodwood

Trueshan

9st 12lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Alan King

Needs good ground or softer; grand stayer who has been first, third and fourth on his three appearances in the Goodwood Cup; not disgraced on return in France this May and he got seriously involved every time last season after his first run, but he's a 9yo now and it would be rolling back the years to see him top of the pile today.

40/1

2nd

5

(2)

13th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Doncaster

Trueshan

9st 7lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Alan King

Tricky to settle; beaten a neck by Coltrane in this race in 2022 but he went one better against Sweet William in it in 2023; as in those races, he's usually been kept to ground softer than good, but he was allowed to take his chance on good going on last two starts, hammering his rivals in a Listed race at Sandown but finishing just over 4l adrift of Sweet William and Gregory in the Goodwood Cup last time; a staying star of previous campaigns but on this season's evidence he needs a bit extra.

4/1

Form: 64116- C

Last run: 250 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
A fine sight bowling along up front and he totally gave his rivals the slip when a runaway winner under Tom Marquand in the Goodwood Cup (good to soft) last August; used to go well in the mud over shorter distances in 2021, but has had two failures on it at Longchamp since; absent since another modest show at York last August; big shout if he's back on song for this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

13th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 6f 44y

Class 2

18:03 Salisbury

Quickthorn

9st 7lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hughie Morrison

Front-runner who won this race in 2021, on his way to four Group wins including the Group 1 Goodwood Cup in 2023; the major concern is that his only subsequent run last year was disappointing and something has also been missing in his three races this term, but this is a step down in class and he should still be good enough.

8/13

6th

5

(2)

23rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Quickthorn

9st 5lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hughie Morrison

Front-runner who gave his rivals the slip in this race two years ago and the Group 1 Goodwood Cup in 2023; the major concern is that his only subsequent run last year was disappointing and so were his two races this term.

12/1

4th

1

(6)

5th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

16:50 Sandown

Quickthorn

9st 2lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hughie Morrison

Front-runner who was a Listed winner at York (1m6f, good to firm) last June and gave his rivals the slip to follow up in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup (2m, good to soft); his season ended with a lesser run, and his comeback was also disappointing, but this C&D winner has leading claims if back on song.

7/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £34.40
Straight Forecast £34.86
Trifecta £83.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sweet William

RP RATINGS:

Coltrane

Telegraph:

Trueshan

TOPSPEED:

Quickthorn

POSTDATA:

Sweet William

NEWMARKET:

Sweet William

The Sun:

Sweet William

The Star:

Sweet William

The Times:

Coltrane

The Guardian:

Coltrane

D Express:

Coltrane

Daily Mirror:

Coltrane

Daily Mail:

Trueshan

Daily Record:

Trueshan