Trojan Sun

Goldie trains out of Uplawmoor in Lanarkshire, and his yard has been in serious form this season, sending out 88 winners. Trojan Sun fits the operation well: a straightforward, honest horse who does his best work when he can bowl along at the front and dictate things from the off. As Goldie himself has noted, he does not have a lot of gears — he is not the type to come from the back of the field and finish with a flourish. Put him up front, let him stride out, and he will keep finding for as long as his legs will carry him.

What is interesting right now is where Trojan Sun is headed. His recent form reads 3-6-1-8-3-9, and that win at Carlisle on 15 June was only four weeks ago, so he is in genuinely active shape. Goldie has indicated the horse handles wet, muddy ground particularly well, and the plan is to squeeze in another run or two before autumn closes out — ideally on softer going. The team are in no rush to put him on an artificial surface over winter, preferring to give him a break and return fresh next year. That is the mark of a yard that knows its horse: Trojan Sun thrives on grass, in the north, preferably with a bit of give in the ground.

Paul Mulrennan has ridden him eight times for one win together — a partnership that has not quite clicked the way some might hope — but the post-race words after Musselburgh pointed warmly to Lauren Young, who rode him with real confidence and purpose that day. Sometimes a horse just needs a rider willing to let them do things their way. Trojan Sun's way is simple: get to the front, and stay there.