Tag Archive for: Field Of Gold

Champions Day the target for Field Of Gold return

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Field Of Gold has stepped up his recovery from the injury he suffered at Goodwood last month, with connections targeting the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot as the stage for his return.

Narrowly beaten in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, John and Thady Gosden’s Juddmonte-owned grey looked set to dominate the mile division after scintillating victories in both the Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He was long odds-on to complete the same Group One hat-trick achieved by his brilliant sire Kingman in Goodwood’s Sussex Stakes in late July, but finished a disappointing fourth behind his pacemaker Qirat, who caused the shock of the season with a 150-1 success.

Field Of Gold in the parade ring before the Sussex Stakes
Field Of Gold in the parade ring before the Sussex Stakes (Andrew Matthews/PA)

It soon transpired Field Of Gold had suffered a significant joint injury and he required some time on the sidelines, but having now returned to full work an outing on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot appears to be firmly on the agenda.

“He’s on the road to recovery, John is very happy with him and he’s cantering every day,” said Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon.

“He’s not done any fast work and he’s probably heading towards Champions Day, I would imagine. Hopefully the ground isn’t too soft and that’s where we’ll see him next.

“The Prix du Moulin and the Irish Champion Stakes are obviously coming too soon because he hasn’t done any fast work since the Sussex, but he’s doing steady canters, he’s sound and the joint has tightened up well and the team are very happy with his well-being.

“The fact that we’re not going to have him ready to run in September, there’s no point in rushing, so we’ll take our time and wait for Ascot – the QEII looks the most obvious race for him.”

Jonquil got back to winning ways at Goodwood
Jonquil got back to winning ways at Goodwood (Steven Paston/PA)

The Juddmonte team have yet to finalise plans for another high-class three-year-old colt in Jonquil, who bounced back to winning ways in the Group Two Celebration Mile at Goodwood last weekend, but his preference for a sound surface could mean he will be getting his passport stamped.

Mahon added: “He’s won a Group Two, options are very limited and we may have to go on our travels because he wants fast ground.

“We just haven’t mapped out a plan for him with the owners yet, but we’ll do that in the next few days.”

Field Of Gold pleasing Gosden with setback recovery

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John Gosden has issued an upbeat bulletin on Field Of Gold after the dual Group One winner picked up an injury in his Sussex Stakes defeat at Goodwood.

The colt’s co-trainer is hopeful he will run again this season, with an autumn comeback in mind.

“The good news is he’s come sound. There was considerable filling there, but that itself has diminished now,” he told the Nick Luck Daily podcast.

“We’re gingerly finding our way forward again with some trotting and we may possibly be able to do an easy canter next week.

“It’s one step at a time, it was certainly a significant enough injury, it’s looking like it was a bad wrench of the joint. The filling the next morning was considerable and he was quite lame on it, but fortunately two sets of X-rays and an ultrasound scan have come back clean.

“We put it down to him wrenching a joint in the race as it was noticeable that he didn’t quite level off properly, he was lugging right which means he was trying to keep the weight off it.

“We’ll see what we have in store for him in the future, we won’t be rushing back to any races right now.”

He added: “Very much so, that (autumn) would be the aim. He’s got a great mind on him and from that point of view he’s a pleasure to train.”

Field Of Gold to miss International assignment at York

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Field Of Gold will bypass York’s Juddmonte International Stakes as he continues his recovery from the setback sustained when suffering a shock defeat at Goodwood last week.

John and Thady Gosden’s Irish 2,000 Guineas and Royal Ascot hero was discovered to be lame after tasting defeat for just the second time this season in the Sussex Stakes and although there are encouraging signs in his recuperation, a step up to 10 furlongs on the Knavesmire has been ruled out by his team.

The son of Kingman will undergo X-rays on Wednesday which will give a clearer indication of the prognosis, with Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon saying: “The horse is doing well and was back sound, which is good.

Field Of Gold on his way to post at Goodwood
Field Of Gold on his way to post at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“He’s got a little bit of swelling in his fetlock but John and Thady are much happier with him so the plan is to do the X-ray on Wednesday – they’ve just pushed it back a day, as the longer you can leave it, the clearer the picture is.

“That will give us some more insight and if the X-ray is clear, we can hopefully start back into some light exercise towards the end of the week or early next week.

“York though is definitely not going to happen at this stage.”

Having dazzled when claiming Classic honours in Ireland and scorching to St James’s Palace Stakes victory at the Royal meeting, there has been plenty of conversation over whether Field Of Gold will try to repeat those heroics up in trip or continue to be the stand out performer of the year at eight furlongs.

The Juddmonte star holds entries in both the Prix du Moulin (ParisLongchamp, September 7) and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Ascot, October 18) at a mile later in the campaign, while he could yet test the waters up in distance in Leopardstown’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes on September 13.

Field Of Gold dazzled in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot
Field Of Gold dazzled in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

However, the colt’s name was notably missing from the entries for the Qipco Champion Stakes over further on the same afternoon as his engagement in the QEII, with race planning currently taking a backseat until one of the season’s top performers returns to full fitness.

Mahon added: “It was the plan pre-Goodwood to stick at a mile for the time being and obviously there has been no chat about potential races since Goodwood, we’re just going to have to let the dust settle and let him get back into exercise and then when he is fit make a plan from there.

“You are getting into that time of year when there is not an abundance of opportunities and there is the Moulin, QEII or you go up to a mile and a quarter for the races at that distance.

“So I wouldn’t say there is a huge amount of options, but we’ll just wait and see and let the horse tell us.”

While the Gosdens might not have Field Of Gold in the Juddmonte International, they still have a very strong contender in Ombudsman.

Ombudsman impressed in the Price of Wales's Stakes
Ombudsman impressed in the Price of Wales’s Stakes (David Davies/PA)

“He won the Prince of Wales’s first time in a Group One and showed he’s up to that level. The Eclipse, again he ran a very good race, beaten by a top-class three-year-old (Delacroix) coming through,” said Thady Gosden.

“He’s come out of that race well, had a little freshen up and (is) heading to the Juddmonte International hopefully.

“He’s such a genuine horse, has got the speed required and hopefully can run a good one there.

“It’s a career-defining race for a lot of horses. If you win the Juddmonte International it certainly means a lot – depth of the field and the quality to it. And then, of course, York’s a very fair track; so often the best horse wins and it’s something that everyone aspires to.”

Field Of Gold found to be lame after Sussex Stakes disappointment

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Plans are on ice for Field Of Gold after the Classic and Royal Ascot hero was discovered to be lame following his below-par display in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

John and Thady Gosden’s star three-year-old was sent off the 1-3 favourite to emulate his sire Kingman and thrive against his elders on the Sussex Downs, but could only finish fourth as his Juddmonte-owned pacemaker Qirat caused a seismic shock at 150-1.

The Clarehaven training team suggested the “engine wasn’t there” in the immediate aftermath of the contest and now a potential reason for his disappointing performance could have been found.

“We don’t have the full picture yet, but he is lame on his left-hind,” Barry Mahon, European racing manager for Juddmonte, told the PA news agency.

“John called me this morning at 7am and said he was ‘off’ behind with a bit of swelling in his leg and the vet is due out to see him later today so until we have the full picture we can’t fully diagnose it.

“But the fact he is lame suggests that could potentially be why we didn’t see the true horse that we know yesterday. We just have to sit tight now until the vet can run through all the tests he can run through.”

With the severity of Field Of Gold’s setback still to be determined, it is unknown at this stage when one of the standout performers of the 2025 season will be next seen in competitive action.

Field Of Gold at Goodwood
Field Of Gold at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Mahon continued: “Plans are on ice and the thing with these things is, it might be a week before anything will show up on an X-ray or whatever, so it’s not something you will have an answer for straight away.

“But the fact the horse is lame indicates there is an issue and we have to address that. What that is and whether it will be a short fix or a long fix, we just don’t know at this stage.”

Despite Field Of Gold’s surprise reversal, there was still plenty of joy for the Juddmonte team with Ralph Beckett’s Qirat stealing the spotlight, with Mahon reflecting on a race of contrasting fortunes.

He added: “It was disappointing from a Field Of Gold point of view, but from a Juddmonte point of view the winner is a home bred and won it in good style and there has to be some satisfaction in that.

“As someone said to me yesterday, it was bittersweet but there was still plenty of sweet.”

Gosdens lament Field Of Gold’s lacklustre Sussex run

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John and Thady Gosden made no excuses for Field Of Gold after he was well-beaten in a renewal of the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood that few could have foreseen.

The Juddmonte-owned grey was the 1-3 favourite as he came into the race having won both Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes this season, so was bidding for a Group One hat-trick with a new rider in the saddle as William Buick replaced the suspended Colin Keane.

Juddmonte’s second-string, the Ralph Beckett-trained Qirat, was the mount of Richard Kingscote and employed as a pacemaker, albeit a useful one, as was Aidan O’Brien’s Serengeti, who looked set to lead stablemate Henri Matisse into the race.

Those two did indeed settle into the lead, but as the race developed it became apparent that the favourite could not close the gap and he finished an eventual fourth when three and three-quarter lengths behind 150-1 winner Qirat.

John Gosden told ITV Racing: “He’s done nothing wrong and actually the other pacemaker (Serengeti) got left (at the start), he comes round and finally they are going a pace. We are sitting a long way behind, that’s life and the pacemaker goes and wins it.

“If you let them have those fractions they will do it, he ran on but he didn’t seem to be balanced on the track, it’s a different type of track to what he has ever run on and he just got a little unbalanced coming out of the dip into the bend. I’m not making any excuses, you ignore the pacemaker and pay the price.

“He ran a huge race in the Guineas (when runner-up at Newmarket) and was flying at the finish, but he was not flying at the finish so there’s a very big difference. He wasn’t at his best so we will have to see why. He is having a normal blow so we will have a good look.

“William said as soon as he asked him the engine wasn’t there, simple as that. He would have run on to be up there with Rosallion, but he didn’t fire today.”

Thady Gosden added: “Congratulations to Ralph and Juddmonte of course for winning, but obviously it was a messy race and I think we can put a line through it.

“We saw he quickened up well but it was too late on, Rosallion was in a good position in front of us and he didn’t quite get there as they’d got a bit of rope in front.

“Hopefully he comes out of it OK, we know how talented he is and today wasn’t a true reflection of his ability. We’ll move on.

“We could see what was unfolding for us a mile out, but obviously it is great for Juddmonte to have a home bred winner.”

Richard Hannon’s 11-2 shot Rosallion was the runner-up under Sean Levey, beaten a neck after giving chase to the runaway Qirat.

Hannon said: “It’s pride, not frustration, but what does he have to do to win?

“Sean did the right thing and moved closer to the pacemakers, and he’s run a super race but didn’t win. It’s life, isn’t it?

“He’s a great horse, his day has already come and there are other days to come. He’s certainly not done with.

“He’s beaten the best three-year-old we’ve seen for years and also the French Guineas winner (Henri Matisse).

“It’s not a great day when you are second in these races but we are very lucky to be part of it. We have an extremely good horse and he went down fighting.”

Henri Matisse, also an 11-2 chance, was third under Ryan Moore when beaten two and a half lengths, with stablemate Serengeti eventually last of the seven runners.

O’Brien said: “Obviously (Serengeti) was there to make sure it was an even gallop and he missed the break, so Wayne (Lordan) had to let him relax and give him a chance.

“He came round the field wide and then when he joined up with the other pacemaker, the winner, he pulled back off and so Wayne was left making the running, but well done to everyone.

“We are very happy with Henri Matisse. We think we haven’t got him really right yet, but we think we are getting there. Every time he runs we are learning more, and we were happy with him here other than he didn’t win, obviously.

“Sean’s (Levey) horse (Rosallion) just came down the outside of him and took a couple of lengths out of him quickly, Ryan just said that coming down the hill at Goodwood it just took him a little time to get organised as he’s a baby three-year-old. He felt he wasn’t finished with and there’s more to come.

“We think he’s a miler, but Ryan thinks he’ll stay further. We’ll see how he is but he could go back to France for the mile races and could end up in America for their mile races, or he could go up in trip, although we’ve never thought he was short of pace.”

Pacemaker Qirat stuns Sussex Stakes big guns

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Field Of Gold’s pacemaker Qirat caused an almighty shock with a 150-1 victory in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

John and Thady Gosden’s Field Of Gold was a 1-3 shot to follow in the hoofprints of his sire Kingman by adding this prestigious Group One contest to his previous top-level victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.

The Ralph Beckett-trained Qirat, who was last seen finishing 27th of 30 runners in the Royal Hunt Cup, was supplemented for the race last week at a cost of £70,000 in a bid to ensure the red-hot favourite had a strong gallop to aim at.

But the race did not go to script, with Qirat keeping up the gallop to emerge triumphant under Richard Kingscote, despite the best efforts of Rosallion, who was a neck adrift at the line.

Richard Kingscote returns on Qirat
Richard Kingscote returns on Qirat (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Field Of Gold, meanwhile, had to settle for a laboured fourth, with Henri Matisse third.

Beckett said: “Richard has always been a very good judge of the clock. The last thing I said to him was keep going with this fellow, he could run really well.

“He loves this place and I wanted to enter him because his work was really good. It’s a horse race and anything can happen.”

Qirat’s dam, Emulous, also produced last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner for Beckett in Bluestocking.

He went on: “I thought he looked a million beforehand and that in the race he would set the pace from the front, and the longer he lasted the better for those concerned with the favourite.

“He’s always threatened to be a good horse and today he showed it.

“What about the mare? To come up with Bluestocking and him. She’s been like a hole in the wall, like a cash machine.”

Kingscote, who recently announced he is taking up a licence in Hong Kong, said: “I feel like a villain but when I saw it wasn’t a grey nose (Field Of Gold) coming towards me I just kept going.”

Although clearly not the result owner-breeders Juddmonte were expecting, the team’s European racing manager Barry Mahon was keen to take the positives out of it.

Of Qirat, he told Racing TV: “Ralph said in the parade ring beforehand ‘this horse is going to run big’ and said to Richard ‘there’s a big run in this horse’. Whilst he was obviously there to make the pace, Ralph thought he could finish in the three and he was dead right.

“He’s a horse we always felt had a lot of potential. Ralph actually wanted to enter him for this race earlier in the year and in my wisdom I said ‘don’t be ridiculous’. We ended up having to supplement him, but he’s got the result.

“At the end of the day Juddmonte and the owners want to compete at the top level and want to win Group One races. Whilst it’s not with the horse we thought it would be, we’ve still won the race, which is the most important thing.”

When asked about future plans for the winner, Mahon added: “I’ve had people from America and Hong Kong and every sort of racing jurisdiction coming up to me inviting him to run, so hopefully the owners might want to travel him.

“Ralph knows a thing or two about winning a Breeders’ Cup race, so maybe that’s where he’ll end up.”

Field Of Gold in the Goodwood parade ring
Field Of Gold in the Goodwood parade ring (Molly Hunter/PA)

What the rest of the season holds for Field Of Gold remains to be seen, with Mahon saying: “The rest of the field seemed to get detached from the two pacemakers, but I think ultimately William (Buick) felt he didn’t handle the track and felt he was a bit flat today. We don’t know why, but we all have off days – human and equines and all manner of beasts.

“Whether there’s an issue there or something we’re not sure, we’ll have to investigate, but he’s definitely not the Field Of Gold that we’ve all seen and know. I’m sure he’ll be back and there’ll be another day.

“He’s had a good enough break since Ascot, John and Thady have freshened him up and they’ve been happy with how he’s trained. He looked good today and William said going to the start he felt very fresh, so maybe he was a little bit too fresh.

“We did give him a good break after Ascot and maybe we were a little bit kind on him. We’ll get him home and check him out first and I think we’ll have to make a plan after that.”

Field sights set on Sussex gold

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Field Of Gold bids to continue his sensational summer when he meets his elders for the first time in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes.

Narrowly denied Classic glory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, John and Thady Gosden’s grey has made no mistake in two subsequent starts, demonstrating his dazzling acceleration in both the Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

His sire Kingman landed both of those Group One events before completing his hat-trick in this race 11 years ago and Field Of Gold is odds-on to follow suit in the hands of William Buick, who takes over in the saddle from the suspended Colin Keane.

“The horse is athletic, he’s got great balance, and hopefully he’ll handle the track well. It’s very different to the round mile of Ascot or the Curragh, that’s for sure,” said John Gosden.

“He does have that great turn of foot, let’s hope we get a clear run and he can produce it on the day.

“His father won the Sussex in somewhat cheeky fashion, it was an extraordinary race. They literally crawled, then sprinted in the last two furlongs, and fortunately we got it just right on the line.”

Field Of Gold renews rivalry with St James’s Palace runner-up Henri Matisse, who had previously landed the French 2000 Guineas for Aidan O’Brien.

Henri Matisse takes on Field Of Gold again
Henri Matisse takes on Field Of Gold again (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Wootton Bassett colt has three and a half lengths to find with the hot favourite from their Royal Ascot meeting and O’Brien is keeping his fingers crossed he can at least close the gap.

“So far everything has gone well since Ascot and we’re looking forward to seeing him run,” he said.

“We think he’s gone the right way since Ascot.”

The older brigade is headed by Docklands and Rosallion, who were split by just a nose when second in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Harry Eustace, the trainer of Docklands, said: “The track should suit him. He has run there before (in 2023) and to the eye was a little disappointing, but it was his first run off the back of his win in the Britannia and, in hindsight, I don’t know whether I had him 100 per cent.

“He handled Epsom well, so I have no problem with the cambers at Goodwood. The quality of the race might be another matter.

“It can’t be overstated how important he’s been for us for the last three years. We’ll cherish his two wins at Royal Ascot forever.

“We’re a relatively young business and he is by a long way our flagship horse – he has been key to everything that’s happened since.”

Meanwhile, Richard Hannon will be looking to replicate some of the great days his father enjoyed in this race with the likes of Canford Cliffs and Toronado as he runs his stable star Rosallion.

Sean Levey aboard Rosallion after winning at Royal Ascot last year
Sean Levey aboard Rosallion after winning at Royal Ascot last year (John Walton/PA)

Like Field Of Gold, the son of Blue Point suffered defeat in the 2000 Guineas before landing Classic honours in Ireland and then scoring at Royal Ascot and his loyal pilot Sean Levey is relishing this mouthwatering clash of generations.

He told Ladbrokes: “There’s no doubt Field Of Gold is going to be very difficult to beat, based on what we’ve seen of him so far. He’s an exceptional horse, but I think we have the right attributes to take him on.

“He’s a four-year-old this year which means he has to give away weight, but he’s improved with every run, in my opinion, from the Lockinge to just being denied at Ascot in the Queen Anne. He’s improved, as good horses do, and I know he’s in a really good place coming into this.

“To be fair, I think we were very unlucky to be denied in the Queen Anne by what was literally the flare of a nostril and he ran into a specialist in Docklands, who was very good on the day.

“But Goodwood is a different story altogether and Rosallion is a good horse who has shown his versatility across a number of racetracks.”

Field Of Gold headlines 11 possibles for Sussex test

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Field Of Gold is the undoubted star attraction among 11 confirmations for the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday.

John and Thady Gosden’s latest superstar colt has followed an almost identical path to his brilliant sire Kingman so far this season, with a narrow defeat in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket followed by devastating victories in the Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Kingman took on and beat his elders for the first time in the 2014 Sussex Stakes and Field Of Gold is a 4-9 favourite with Coral to follow suit in the hands of William Buick, who is set to deputise in the saddle for the suspended Colin Keane.

The Gosdens and owners Juddmonte have also confirmed Lockinge hero Lead Artist and while he is not expected to take on his stablemate, Juddmonte are set to field a second runner and a potential pacemaker for Field Of Gold in the form of Qirat, who has been supplemented at a cost of £70,000.

Field Of Gold is one of five three-year-olds still in contention, with the other four all trained by Aidan O’Brien. The Ballydoyle handler has left in the French Guineas winner Henri Matisse, who was second to Field Of Gold at Royal Ascot, as well as Serengeti, The Lion In Winter and Exactly from his Classic crop, while he could also call upon talented older miler Diego Velazquez.

Docklands (left) repels Rosallion at Royal Ascot
Docklands (left) repels Rosallion at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

The Harry Eustace-trained Docklands and Richard Hannon’s Rosallion look set to renew rivalry after finishing first and second with only a nose between them in the Queen Anne last month.

The potential line-up is completed by Carl Spackler, who was a multiple Grade One winner in America for Chad Brown but was beaten into sixth place on his first start for leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher in the Queen Anne.

William Buick booked for Field Of Gold at Goodwood

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William Buick will ride Field Of Gold in next week’s Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Narrowly beaten in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when partnered by Kieran Shoemark, John and Thady Gosden’s three-year-old has made no mistake in two subsequent starts under Juddmonte’s retained rider Colin Keane, emulating his sire Kingman with brilliant victories in both the Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

With Keane currently serving a suspension after contravening the whip rules, connections needed to secure a new pilot for Field Of Gold’s next appearance – and having revealed Buick was “on the list” of potential riders two weeks ago, he has now been confirmed for the high-profile mount.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, told the PA news agency: “I think John and Thady were to talk to William yesterday to confirm his availability and it sounds like they’ve done that and he’s free to ride him, so I’d say that’s the plan.

“In fairness, until you get to within a week of the event you don’t know what other trainers and jockeys are doing, but obviously William has been able to commit now which is good.

“He’s a top-class rider and rode a Group One winner for us last October on board Kalpana, so it’s good to have him on board.”

Field Of Gold is set to head a quality Juddmonte team bound for the Sussex Downs, with fellow three-year-olds Cosmic Year and Jonquil also poised for action.

Jonquil (left) winning the Greenham Stakes at Newbury
Jonquil (left) winning the Greenham Stakes at Newbury (David Davies/PA)

The Harry Charlton-trained Cosmic Year was second to Field Of Gold in the Irish 2,000 Guineas before failing to fire in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville, while Andrew Balding’s Greenham Stakes winner and French Guineas runner-up Jonquil will step back up in trip after finding the six furlongs of the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot too sharp.

Field Of Gold’s Lockinge-winning stablemate Lead Artist meanwhile holds a Sussex Stakes entry, but appears unlikely to be on the Goodwood squad.

“I’d say Cosmic Year will run in the Thoroughbred Stakes, the Group Three over a mile, at the minute that’s the plan,” Mahon added.

“Jonquil worked nicely this morning and he’s a probable to run in the Lennox over seven (furlongs).

“Lead Artist is in the Sussex, but I’d say he’s more likely to wait. He won’t run against Field Of Gold I’d imagine, so I’m not sure what the plans are for him at this stage.”

Field Of Gold ‘in great order’ for Sussex Stakes test

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John Gosden is looking forward to seeing how Field Of Gold fares when faced with the unique demands of Goodwood in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes next week.

The brilliant Juddmonte-owned grey has had a superb campaign so far this year, winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Prior to those runs he has narrowly denied in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and was the winner of the Craven, a superb run of form that leads neatly into the Sussex and very much makes him the horse to beat.

“He’s been a grand horse to train, he’s done nothing but thrive this year,” said Gosden.

“We’ve been pleased with his progress all the way through.

“The Sussex is a different test of a horse. If you’ve ever walked the track, it’s quite a surprise, it runs down into a dip, swings up and around.

“You don’t want too big a field and a high draw because you are literally down the hill looking at the horses getting the shortest run round up the hill, so the draw is a big factor there if you get a large field.

“The horse is athletic, he’s got great balance, and hopefully he’ll handle the track well. It’s very different to the round mile of Ascot or the Curragh, that’s for sure.

“He’s in great order, and we’re looking forward to running him. It’s very much the obvious race to go to for him.”

Field Of Gold could be joined by Lockinge Stakes winner Lead Artist, who proved his suitability for Goodwood when taking the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at this meeting last year and is also owned by the Juddmonte operation.

Gosden said: “He’s in great form, we’ll see if he runs, no decision on that yet.

“He bowled along there last year and won in good style. We’re not sure if they’ll both run at this stage, we’re a little far off from the race yet.”

Gosden, who trains alongside his son, Thady, will have plenty of other headline runners at the Goodwood fixture, with French Master and Sweet William both going for the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.

Successful in the Copper Horse Handicap at the Royal meeting, French Master will be up in trip and class, but Gosden said: “We’re hopeful he’ll run a good race. He did a little breeze with Sweet William, there wasn’t much between them, nicely on the bridle, looking after each other. Sweet William was a neck up, actually.”

William Buick ‘on the list’ for vacant Field Of Gold ride

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William Buick is “on the list” of potential riders who could partner Field Of Gold in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood later this month.

Narrowly denied by Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when partnered by Kieran Shoemark, the John and Thady Gosden-trained grey has made no mistake in two subsequent outings under Juddmonte’s new retained rider Colin Keane, dominating his rivals in the Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

However, with Keane ruled out of the entirety of the Goodwood Festival after picking up a 14-day suspension at Sandown last week for transgressing the whip rules, Field Of Gold will require another change of jockey on July 30.

Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon insists no final decision will be made until closer to the time, but told the PA news agency on Saturday: “I’m sure he (Buick) is on the list, but we’ll have to wait and see whether Godolphin have a runner in the race and everything else nearer the time.

“All being well we’re heading to Goodwood – that is plan A. I saw the horse myself earlier this week, he looked in good shape and seems to be doing well.

“We’ll make a decision on who rides him closer to the time.”

John Gosden rates a Buick a possible pick, although he did joke that Frankie Dettori had put in a request for the ride from his American base.

When asked whether Buick was the most likely pilot, Gosden said: “Probably, yes, but I got a picture from Saratoga of a man lighting a picture in a Catholic church and underneath it said ‘please can I have the ride’!

“That’s a joke! Someone like William (it could be), but we haven’t got near the race yet. You know this game, we’ll just wait.”

Colin Keane ruled out of Goodwood by 14-day whip ban

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Colin Keane is set to miss the Qatar Goodwood Festival after being suspended for 14 days for using his whip over the permitted level at Sandown last week.

The Irishman has not long been retained by Juddmonte as their first choice jockey and was aboard their colt Windlord when he won the Gala Stakes at the Esher track on Friday.

Keane used his whip eight times in the closing stages of the contest, a count permissible in Ireland but not in England as the limit in Britain is six strikes in Flat contests.

The British Horseracing Authority’s whip review committee has fined him £350 and suspended him from July 22 to August 4, a spell that will see him miss Sussex Stakes ride aboard Field Of Gold – with whom he won both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Speaking at Sandown on Saturday, the rider said: “I’m so used to eight (strikes) as it is at home, I just have to abide by the rules here.

“That’s the only way I can put it, I know six is the amount over here but when I was in a ding-dong battle, I suppose it just went out of my head unfortunately.

“It’s unfortunate but it’s my own fault.”

‘Fantasy racing’ for York with Japanese superstar in Juddmonte International mix

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Danon Decile, winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic for Japan, was the surprise name among 28 entries for the Juddmonte International at York on August 20 – and excitement is already building on the Knavesmire.

Last year’s Japanese Derby winner travelled to Dubai as something of an unknown quantity having subsequently finished only sixth in the Japanese St Leger, after which he was a close third in the Arima Kinen and won a Group Two.

Relatively unconsidered in the betting for the Sheema Classic, he beat Calandgan by a length and a quarter in the Meydan feature, with Rebel’s Romance adding substance to the form in fourth.

Should he make the journey he may be joined from Japan by Tenno Sho winner Redentor.

York’s chief executive William Derby said: “It’s hugely exciting and I’m thrilled that we’ve got two entries from Japan.

“Obviously I saw him in Dubai when he won the Sheema Classic, he was devastating that night and he’s among the top three (rated) turf horses in the world.”

The 10-furlong Group One was again officially the best race in the world last year, when City Of Troy beat Calandagan, and while the winner is now at stud the runner-up could be back for Francis-Henri Graffard who has also entered his hugely exciting three-year-old Daryz.

Field Of Gold for the sponsors, Ombudsman, Lead Artist, Detain and the unexposed Nahraan give John and Thady Gosden an enviable hand.

Camille Pissarro, Henri Matisse, Los Angeles, Lambourn, Minnie Hauk and Whirl are part of Aidan O’Brien’s squad.

City Of Troy beat Calandagan in last year's Juddmonte International
City Of Troy beat Calandagan in last year’s Juddmonte International (Mike Egerton/PA)

The 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court, Almaqam and Anmaat, all entered for the Eclipse this weekend, are engaged.

Derby went on: “It’s so exciting for our flagship race, that was rated the Longines best race in the world last year, to have such a potential field.

“We hope success breeds success and with prize-money of £1.25million it’s put us on a global stage.

“With Field Of Gold and many others in there it looks like the best turf middle-distance horses in the world could be heading our way, at this early stage, admittedly.

“It was great to see Calandagan finally get his Group One at the weekend having run a blinder behind City Of Troy last year, he could be back again, but his stablemate has been mentioned for the race and he looks very exciting.”

All the major races at the Ebor meeting have closed for entries, including a new Group One in the Pattern, the Sky Bet City of York Stakes.

“I’m delighted to see such a strong entry for that,” said Derby.

“There’s Lazzat, Inisherin, Quinault, who won on Saturday, and one horse who did catch my eye was The Lion in Winter who would be dropping back in trip.

“The Nunthorpe looks as good as ever and it was so nice to see Jim Goldie and Paul Mulrennan win at Royal Ascot with American Affair. Having won a handicap at our Dante meeting just in May, it would be some story if he can win the Nunthorpe a few months later.

“The Yorkshire Oaks has all the fillies you would expect like Aidan’s Minnie Hauk and Whirl among the three-year-olds and then there’s David O’Meara’s Estrange who looked exciting at Haydock.

“It’s that time when you play fantasy racing. I know they won’t all turn up, but we’re excited about the prospect of some of them turning up.”

Goodwood or Deauville options for Field Of Gold

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Goodwood’s Qatar Sussex Stakes and the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville are the two options under consideration for Field Of Gold following his sensational display at Royal Ascot.

John and Thady Gosden’s colt has followed an identical route to his brilliant sire Kingman so far this season by finishing second in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket before going one better in the Irish equivalent and then bolting up in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

With Kingman going on to land the Sussex and then the Marois on what proved to be the final start of his career, the Juddmonte team are hopeful Field Of Gold can at least match if not surpass his father’s achievements.

“He’s come out of Ascot in great form, as far as I know they are all happy with him,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“It was a great result, he’s obviously an exceptional horse and it was nice to see it all come together on a big day.

“I suppose his dad’s three-year-old season got cut short a little bit and hopefully this lad will be able to continue that run for the rest of the year.

“I think that seems to be the train of thought, sort of Sussex or Jacques le Marois next. He’ll tell us closer to the time whether he’s ready for Goodwood or he needs another week or two.”

Colin Keane and Field Of Gold following his Royal Ascot triumph
Colin Keane and Field Of Gold following his Royal Ascot triumph (John Walton/PA)

With the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday week seemingly coming too soon, if Field Of Gold is to test his powers over a mile and a quarter at some stage that will have to wait until later in the summer, with the Juddmonte International at York considered an “obvious” potential target.

Mahon added: “At the start of the season we were more bullish about going a mile and a quarter, but the more they keep winning at a mile you start questioning it.

“I’m sure we’ll try it at some stage and that (Juddmonte International) would be an obvious place to do it if we wanted to go that way.”

Field Of Gold sparkles with decisive St James’s Palace strike

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Field Of Gold lit up the first day of Royal Ascot with a dominant display in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

John and Thady Gosden’s colt had been a fast-finishing second behind Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas before easily winning the Irish equivalent, while the French Guineas winner Henri Matisse was also running.

There was no doubt who emerged as the best of the three though, as Colin Keane breezed through on the 8-11 favourite before bursting clear to beat Henri Matisse by three and a half lengths, with Ruling Court back in third.

Field Of Gold has now charted the same route as his sire Kingman, who also suffered defeat at Newmarket before gaining Irish redemption and adding Royal Ascot glory when trained by John Gosden.

Field Of Gold returns to the Ascot winner's enclosure
Field Of Gold returns to the Ascot winner’s enclosure (John Walton/PA)

“Like father, like son,” said Gosden, in reference to Kingman’s win in 2014. “The nerves may have got to the trainer beforehand but thankfully not to the horse or the jockey.

“It was great, a great performance and Oisin (Murphy) did a nice job on Windlord setting an even pace and he came to the head of the straight and he had a lot of horse.

“For a moment I was thinking ‘whoops, this is Ascot and it climbs and have we gone a bit soon’. I wasn’t watching him, I was looking back as you always have to do here, but fortunately none of the dangers were coming to get him.

“He always impressed as a two-year-old but he was a big boy and slightly outgrew himself. We ran him in France which was a mistake in itself and I should have run him in the Dewhurst and I regret that. But this year he has been exemplary in everything he has done and he’s a pleasure to train because he is a pretty relaxed character.”

Gosden admitted the Irish 2,000 Guineas had not originally been part of Field Of Gold’s intended campaign, which could influence where the colt heads next.

He added: “It was never the plan to go to Ireland and he’s had a trial and two Guineas and now this which is a lot of racing and we’re not even halfway through the season yet.

“Maybe (we’ll) freshen him up now and go to the Sussex, but we will see. If we hadn’t gone to Ireland, I would have been keen to go to the Eclipse.

“When they win like that and make it look easy they do take a lot out of themselves and I don’t want to be someone seen running him back quick in an Eclipse straight off the back of this.”

Colin Keane celebrates after Field Of Gold's breathtaking win
Colin Keane celebrates after Field Of Gold’s breathtaking win (David Davies/PA)

For Juddmonte’s new retained rider it capped a fine first week in the hot seat for the Abdullah family, with the six-time Irish champion in no doubt he is in a privileged position, handed the reins to an exceptional talent.

Keane said: “He’s a special horse and I’m lucky enough to join this team and to have a horse like him early on is amazing. I’ve had nothing compared to this and it’s very special.

“He just proved what he did at the Curragh wasn’t a mistake and it’s similar to revving a motorbike, when you ask him it’s instant.

“Without a doubt he’s the best I’ve ridden. The next best would be Siskin who was in the same colours, but this lad is a level above, he’s very special.

“I’m in a very privileged position to be in these colours and getting a horse like him is unbelievable.

“I wasn’t nervous, but there was plenty of anticipation and it was a very good renewal of the race. It was three Guineas winners taking each other on, but he’s won like a very good horse.

“Ideally I would have liked to have been carried further into the race as he will only do so much once he got there. I didn’t want to be a sitting duck there for them to catch me, but once he quickened up I thought they will do well to catch me.

“I couldn’t wish for a better start, but when you’re riding for this operation and this is the quality of horse you get, these are the opportunities you get and it’s very special but also a bit of relief.

“He’s following in the right footsteps and he just seems to be a horse who is getting better with racing and you can see the way he relaxes now. I’m just the man fortunate enough to be stepping in on him at the right time.”

The writing was on the wall early for Ruling Court who never looked likely to confirm form with Field Of Gold.

“William (Buick) said he was never really travelling comfortably and at this level you need to be able to get up there and travel on the bridle to give your horse a breather,” said Charlie Appleby.

“It might be a bit too soon to say we’ll be looking at an Eclipse but working back from the Juddmonte will be the most likely target.”

Aidan O’Brien indicated Henri Matisse would likely stick at a mile.