Sunway gets another chance at staying gold in Doncaster Cup

David Menuisier is backing stable star Sunway to provide him with a significant birthday winner in the Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup.

Although winless since rounding off his juvenile campaign with a Group One success in France a couple of seasons ago, the Galiway colt has been placed in high-profile Pattern races on several occasions, including a narrow defeat at the hands of Los Angeles in last year’s Irish Derby.

He finished a creditable fourth on his first start over two miles in the Goodwood Cup at the end of July and having seen his charge encounter a troubled passage on his latest appearance in the Grand Prix de Deauville a fortnight ago, Menuisier is hoping for a change of luck in Friday‘s Town Moor feature.

“Sadly he didn’t have a race at all at Deauville. He was trapped on the rail with nowhere to go,” said the French-born trainer, who celebrates his 45th birthday on raceday.

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Rolling the dice

“He pretty much only had a canter, albeit an expensive canter. We don’t think it took a lot out of him and that is why we are rolling the dice again.

“I really wish he could put his head in front again, it would be lovely.

“He deserves it and also he runs on my birthday, so it would be lovely if we could celebrate with a Group Two win.”

Sunway was beaten just under four lengths by red-hot St Leger favourite Scandinavia in the Goodwood Cup and Menuisier is more than happy to give him another go over a marathon distance.

He added: “I don’t think it was a question of trip at Goodwood, it was a question of quality.

“He looks like he stays well, obviously it’s an extra couple of furlongs at Doncaster, but I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t see out the trip.”

Favourite

The likely favourite is John and Thady Gosden’s defending champion Sweet William, who was one place and half a length ahead of Sunway when third in the Goodwood Cup and has since chased home esteemed stablemate Trawlerman in the Lonsdale Cup at York.

Sweet William’s regular rider Robert Havlin told Sky Sports Racing: “For a few strides I thought I was going to get Trawlerman at York, I was kind of tracking on his heels and had one go, but then he pulled away from me.

“He’s actually a pleasure to ride because there’s no right or wrong way to ride him.

“People say you’ve got to get there late on him, but he came good on me about two and a half (furlongs) down in the Doncaster Cup last year, so I just kicked him in the belly and he showed a good turn of foot.

“He likes Doncaster and two-mile-two is probably his ideal trip. He’s a good old boy to ride and hopefully this is his day on Friday.”

Interesting contender

Hipop De Loire is an interesting contender for Willie Mullins after finishing sixth as a leading fancy for the Ebor at York three weeks ago, while Hughie Morrison raises Kyle Of Lochalsh’s sights after a wide-margin victory in a Goodwood handicap over an extended two and a half miles.

“I think we’re all realistic and it is a major step up in grade, but when you win a handicap like he did and go up 8lb to 105 – when he could have gone up a bit more – you are left with few other options,” said Morrison.

“It’s the longest stakes race other than the Gold Cup in the UK, so we have to go for it really.

“He’s in good form and he’s five and sometimes you have to take your chance while you can.

“We’ve always felt he can only keep on improving as long as he stays in one piece really.

Improve

“As a two-year-old he looked like a yearling and at four he looked a three-year-old and it’s only now that he’s looking a very attractive, mature colt.

“The favourite looks tough to beat and we have to improve 10lb to trouble him and then you’ve got the old fellows like Coltrane who can turn up.

“Sunway was unlucky last time as well so we have to be realistic, but we will take a chance.

“If he doesn’t run well then as long as he comes back OK, we can have another go somewhere else.”

Andrew Balding‘s veteran stayer Coltrane won this prize three years ago and is back for more having finished fifth and fourth in the last two renewals, with Sir Mark Prescott’s Pendragon, Ralph Beckett’s Oxford Comma and Tashkhan from Brian Ellison’s yard completing the eight-strong field.

READ MORE: Tom Marquand excited to be riding St Leger favourite Scandinavia