SportHorse racingGold CupLast year’s winner of the historic staying prize has developed a rare eye condition which has made him sensitive to bright sunlight15:29, 12 Jun 2026Ascot Gold Cup champion Trawlerman is set to wear a pair of ski goggles to aid his title defence at next week’s five day royal meeting.‌The staying star captured the country’s historic long distance prize when completing a seven length rout of his rivals in track record time 12 months ago.‌Last month co-trainer John Gosden warned that the Godolphin horse might not make the line-up this year, having missed his planned warm-up race at Sandown last month, as he hadn’t come to hand. He is back on schedule for Thursday’s £700,000 showpiece after being included among 13 confirmations for the Group 1 contest on Friday.‌Trawlerman has regularly raced in a hood but when he reappears in the Royal Ascot parade ring next week he will also be sporting a set of ski goggles, if it’s a sunny day.“He did have a strange infection in his eyes about 18 months ago, which he seemed to get over,” Gosden told Mirror racing. “Now it’s become this sensitivity to bright sunlight.‌“His box is shaded and all that but when he is out in bright sunlight we tend to put the goggles on him to diminish it, just like people put dark glasses on.”Gosden said Trawlerman would wear the goggles in the paddock and on the way to post but not during the race.Article continues below“The point being that when you are actually in action in a race the light isn’t probably going to bother him,” Gosden continued. “It’s when he’s standing there, then it can cause him pain. He’s been all right and exercising him has been fine.“He’s probably trying to do the impossible by running first time up in a Gold Cup. It’s demanding to go there without a prep race.“Going two and a half miles at racing pace, it’s not like you’re going steady. It’s a lot to ask first time out.”Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌John GosdenRoyal AscotGold CupAscot racecourse