By Tom Frary
One of Britain's most beloved stayers, Normandie Stud's homebred Sweet William (Sea The Stars) came good again on Friday to add his name to an illustrious list who have won the G2 Doncaster Cup more than once. Left behind at the start, the 10-11 favourite was coaxed into contention by Robert Havlin and after moving to the three-year-old Pendragon (Camelot) approaching two out stormed clear for an emphatic 3 3/4-length success.
“These staying races are a whole lot of fun and he's a wonderful old horse,” John Gosden said. “He answered the call–he's been running into Trawlerman and Kyprios and that's tough–but Philippa [Cooper] says that's it for the season and we'll hopefully be back this time next year. It's lovely to go out on a high.”
Runner-up in this two years ago, Sweet William has subsequently earned a reputation as a bit of a character despite showing admirable consistency in the division's top contests. Second to Kyprios in the Goodwood Cup and British Champions Long Distance Cup either side of his breakthrough success in this 12 months ago, he had chased home stablemate Trawlerman in York's Lonsdale Cup last month to underline his status in this category.
With those giants removed from the scene, he was able to enjoy a relatively straightforward outing here to join Stradivarius, Times Up, Millenary and Double Trigger as a multiple winner of this prize in recent times.
Sir Mark Prescott was impressed by the performance of the runner-up Pendragon, who was clear best of the rest. “I thought he ran a wonderful race, I was very proud of him,” he said. “It's a shame Sweet William's as good as he is, but I thought it was a great staying performance by a three-year-old and he got a lovely ride. He probably won't run again this year, he might possibly go to Saudi for that race in February. He's a firm-ground man really and then he can come back and have a summer campaign.”
🥈 2023
🏆 2024
🏆 2025SWEET WILLIAM retains his Betfred Howard Wright @DoncasterRaces Cup Stakes crown! pic.twitter.com/AmmBDD8moD
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 12, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Sweet William is the third foal out of the Listed-winning Gale Force (Shirocco), with the second being Frankel's Hurricane Lane who had one of his finest hours at this venue when adding the St Leger to his tally which featured the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris. Also responsible for his Listed-placed full-sister Frankel's Storm, she is a half to the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes winner Seal Of Approval (Authorized) from the family of Sea The Stars' luminaries Harzand and Emily Upjohn.
Her unraced two-year-old Tornado Tower, who is a full-brother to Hurricane Lane, was a 850,000gns purchase by Blandford Bloodstock at Tattersalls October Book 1 while she also has a yearling filly by Dubawi and another Frankel, this time a filly foal.
Friday, Doncaster, Britain
BETFRED HOWARD WRIGHT DONCASTER CUP STAKES-G2, £150,000, Doncaster, 9-12, 3yo/up, 17f 197yT, 3:52.24, g/s.
1–SWEET WILLIAM (IRE), 133, g, 6, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Gale Force (GB) (SW-Fr & SP-Eng), by Shirocco (Ger)
2nd Dam: Hannda (Ire), by Dr Devious (Ire)
3rd Dam: Handaza (Ire), by Be My Guest
O/B-Normandie Stud Ltd; T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Robert Havlin. £85,065. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-Eng, 20-6-8-5, $1,221,617. *1/2 to Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), G1SW-Eng, Fr & Ire, $2,792,161; and Frankel's Storm (GB) (Frankel {GB}), SP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Pendragon (Ire), 122, g, 3, Camelot (GB)–Elphin (GB), by Frankel (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€155,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Ian Banwell (Osborne House); B-Kilcarn Stud; T-Sir Mark Prescott. £32,250.
3–Hipop De Loire (Fr), 133, g, 8, American Post (GB)–Louve Rose (GB), by Muhtathir (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€22,000 Ylg '18 DEANOV). O-Stawomir Pegza; B-Arnaud & Andre Mottais; T-Willie Mullins. £16,140.
Margins: 3 3/4, 2, 7. Odds: 0.91, 4.50, 9.00.
Also Ran: Kyle Of Lochalsh (GB), Coltrane (Ire), Tashkhan (Ire), Sunway (Fr), Oxford Comma (Ire).
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