The dual Doncaster Cup winner Sweet William has been retired from racing, with jockey Robert Havlin, who partnered the son of Sea The Stars in every one of his 24 career starts, describing him as his “favourite horse of all time to ride”.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden for owner-breeder Philippa Cooper, Sweet William retires as a seven-time winner and with over £1.2 million in career earnings to his name. Successful in the G2 Doncaster Cup in both 2024 and 2025, he can also count the 2024 G3 Henry II Stakes and this year's G3 Sagaro Stakes among his notable victories.
The seven-year-old was last seen finishing third in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for the second time in three years, having also occupied that position behind Kyprios in 2024. Remarkably, when he finished fourth in the 2025 Gold Cup won by stablemate Trawlerman, it was the only time in his career that he finished outside of the first three places.
“He's going to leave a big hole in my career, as he's been a big part of it,” said Havlin. “He has been my favourite horse of all time to ride because he was a character and by the end he had some fan base.
“People used to call him names, but the only time he was out of the first three was last year's Gold Cup. That was only because, before the race, I'd convinced myself that he was going to win. I rode him too handy and that probably cost me third.
“When I cantered him at Ascot to the start the other week, I could hear people shouting, 'Go on, William!' He had a big fan base and the important thing is that he's going out in one piece.
“We always said that, if there was any slight issue, that would be it. But, apart from when he had those screws in his leg as a young horse, he never took a lame step. He owes us nothing and he'll be happy as Larry out in a field.”
Havlin continued, “He's bumped into all the best stayers down the years – Trawlerman, Trueshan, Kyprios.
“Last year on Champions Day, for a brief second I thought that he was going to collar Trawlerman, but those are names that will be remembered for a long time. That is why these stayers are great, as they are around a while so you get attached to them.
“He was second in the Ebor [in 2023] and Philippa said, 'That's his last handicap.' It was and it's been Group races all of the way.
“I had been looking forward to the Doncaster Cup as I always felt that he was better at that time of year, but we've got to look after him and he'll enjoy his retirement.”
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