There was a moment halfway down the lane at Del Mar where Mirco Demuro simply pressed closer to his partner’s neck, a subtle lean of trust — rider to horse — and Truly Quality did the rest. In defending his crown in the Hollywood Turf Cup (focus keyword), the five-year-old gelding did not just win, he stamped himself as a fighter with rhythm, stamina, and a will that refuses to fold. Demuro later recalled how the horse surged beneath him, ears pricked, stride lengthening with purpose as they swept past tiring rivals to the delight of connections watching from the rail.
Sitting seventh early, Truly Quality travelled unhurried through a steady tempo established by Balladeer and Edwin Maldonado. Demuro kept him clear of trouble, closing gradually the second time down the back as the field compressed. Requist moved through to apply pressure to Balladeer, but Truly Quality cruised up beside them — poised, patient, biding his moment. When they straightened for the run to the wire, he showed exactly why class matters on a long turf reel, asserting by one-and-three-quarter lengths and defending his title with composure.
“He’s a clever horse, he knows exactly what to do,” Demuro said afterward, emphasising pace and timing. “If you go too soon, he pulls up. Too late and you won’t get there. But today he wanted it — when he came down the stretch, he wanted to win the race.”
Owned and bred by George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stables and trained by Jonathan Thomas, Truly Quality (by Quality Road) now boasts a record of 16:6-4-3 with career earnings of $630,495. Thomas praised his rider’s judgement, noting the challenge of navigating from gate seven and the patience shown early. “Once the pace steadied, Mirco had him exactly where he needed to be,” he said. “He gave up ground early, but the horse stayed on powerfully. Very impressive.”
Hollywood Turf Cup — full finishing orderÂ
Flashiest, trained by Leonard Powell, made a bold late run despite a bump from Nineeleventurbo up the back, angling three-wide and holding second by a narrow head. Nineeleventurbo finished third under Antonio Fresu, with Requist close behind in fourth. Fractional times were 24.56, 48.86, 1:14.24, 1:40.05 and 2:05.07, with the final clock stopping at 2:29.67.
The result reinforces Truly Quality’s standing as a top-level turf stayer — measured, relentless, and unbothered by the grind of distance. The connections will leave with pride rather than theatrics, knowing this was a victory earned through tempo, temperament, and trust between horse and rider.
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