Trawlerman delivered a record-setting performance with his seven-length win in Thursday’s Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup at the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting in Britain. Allowed to set an early lead, Trawlerman was not only impossible to catch in the race at 2 1/2 miles, but set a course record of 4:15.02 seconds, beating the previous mark of 4:16.92 set by Rite of Passage in 2010. Racing on a course rated good-to-firm certainly helped Trawlerman’s time. Ridden by William Buick for trainers John and Thady Gosden, Trawlerman paid $5.30 as the favorite in American pools. Trawlerman held a comfortable lead over stablemate Sweet William for the first two miles. With three furlongs remaining, Buick urged Trawlerman, who scooted clear. Illinois, winner of the Group 1 English St. Leger last September, moved into second in early stretch but could not threaten Trawlerman. The 5-2 second choice, Illinois finished seven lengths clear of 18-1 Dubai Future. Trawlerman and Dubai Future are owned by Godolphin Racing. :: Royal Ascot 2025: Get PPs, previews, analysis, recaps, and more John Gosden paid tribute to Buick, who in turn paid tribute to Trawlerman’s ability to set a steady gallop. “Trawlerman just goes off,” Gosden told the press of Trawlerman’s ability to set the pace. “I said to William, ‘What did you do?’ And he said, ‘I threw the reins at him. He can judge pace better than me.’ “Off they went together and picked it up from five [furlongs] out. He is an out-and-out galloper and William judged it perfectly. It is not an easy thing to do over two-and-a-half miles. He is a wonderful old horse, and a great team look after him. He is a favorite – part of the furniture, really.” Trawlerman, a 7-year-old gelding by Golden Horn, won for the ninth time in 21 starts. He won his 2025 debut in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at two miles at Sandown Park near London on May 29. Gosden suggested that Trawlerman will be raced sparingly with the goal of a repeat appearance in the 2026 Ascot Gold Cup. “I think he should be aimed at coming back next year, and he shouldn’t be over-raced at all in between,” he said. “Do not be surprised if you don’t see him again until the Henry II next year.” Trawlerman gave Gosden his fifth Gold Cup win since 2018 and second since he began training with his son, Thady. John Gosden won the Gold Cup for three consecutive years with Stradivarus from 2018 to 2020 and with Courage Mon Ami in 2023 in partnership with his son. In the 2024 Gold Cup, Trawlerman was beaten a length by Kyprios, who was retired last month. “He ran Kyprios to a length last year and they were both all out,” Gosden said. “I think he deserved, with Kyprios not here, to come back and show that he is a proper horse. We like the Cup races and those lovely staying horses.” Norfolk Stakes In the day’s first race, Charles Darwin, a No Nay Never colt trained by Aidan O’Brien, won his third consecutive start in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on a straightaway course. Charles Darwin, ridden by Ryan Moore, led a group of runners that raced on the side of the course nearest the grandstand. Charles Darwin, who paid $3.10 in American pools, finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of 12-1 Wise Approach, who was three-quarters of a length in front of 10-1 Sandal’s Song in a field of 15. Sandal’s Song is trained in the United States by George Weaver and was beaten for the first time in his second start. He won the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Gulfstream Park on May 10. Charles Darwin earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Oct. 31 with the win in the Norfolk Stakes. O’Brien told the press on Thursday that Charles Darwin may be best suited to sprints. Owned by the Coolmore syndicate, Charles Darwin has already had four starts, beginning his career with a fourth-place finish in a five-furlong race at the Curragh in Ireland in April. Ribblesdale Stakes In Thursday’s Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/2 miles, the O’Brien-trained Garden of Eden ($18.50) raced near the front throughout and won her first group-level stakes in her ninth start. Ridden by Moore, Garden of Eden finished 3 1/4 lengths in front of 47-1 Understudy, trained by the Gosdens. Catalina Delcaprio, the 8-5 favorite, finished third, beaten 3 3/4 lengths. Garden of Eden, by Saxon Warrior, has won 3 of 9 starts for the Coolmore syndicate. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.