Tag Archive for: Juddmonte

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.”

Keane eager for flying Ascot start in new Juddmonte role

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Colin Keane is known as ‘baby Mick Kinane’ to some of those closest to him and hopes to prove just as deadly as the great Irish rider at Royal Ascot, with excitement building ahead of a key week in his new role at Juddmonte

The six-time Irish champion jockey was named retained rider to the leading owners earlier in the week and can look forward to a stellar book of mounts as he dives straight in at the deep end for his new employers at one of the year’s most important meetings.

Keane is embracing the challenge as he pays thanks to the role long-time ally Ger Lyons – one of the men who gave Keane his ‘baby Mick’ moniker – has played in his rise to becoming the weighing room’s most wanted man.

Colin Keane will be wearing the Juddmonte colours on a regular basis
Colin Keane will be wearing the Juddmonte colours on a regular basis (Brian Lawless/PA)

“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be on the stage I’ve got to. I was with him from when I was an apprentice, I went straight there from my father’s and he has backed me 100 per cent,” said Keane.

“Ger has never hidden that and I’m very fortunate. I wouldn’t be where I am without him. It was a pretty straightforward decision (to take the Juddmonte job) and once I had a chat with Ger and he was happy enough, we were all happy.

“I think Pat (Healy, racing photographer) and Ger came up with ‘baby Mick’ and it’s not a bad nickname to have. But we try to keep it as relaxed as possible and get the job done.

“Royal Ascot is the pinnacle of our sport. It’s the place where everyone wants to go – owners, trainers and jockeys – and so I’m very fortunate to have some nice rides to look forward to next week.”

Keane is the first jockey since James Doyle to be committed to Juddmonte, joining the likes of Pat Eddery and Richard Hughes amongst those who have donned the famous pink, white and green silks on a regular basis for the Abdullah family’s operation.

Colin Keane was in Newmarket to ride Lead Artist on Wednesday
Colin Keane was in Newmarket to ride Lead Artist on Wednesday (Adam Morgan/PA)

It is not just decorated names in the saddle that are inextricably linked with Juddmonte but also some of the finest racehorses of all time, with the 30-year-old well aware of the history of his new role.

Keane added: “It was a ‘pinch yourself’ moment when the call came and I had to double check that it was actually Barry Mahon (Juddmonte’s European racing manager) on the other end of the phone!

“When you get opportunities like this, you have to take them and we could be talking here for a while now about the horses that have come and gone in these colours. Hopefully there will be more to come.

“I’ll be coming over whenever I am told and finding things out. I’ll be talking to Barry Mahon and he’ll be telling me where I need to go. I’ll go over and back from Ireland and maybe having the odd day in France. I’ll be kept busy, that’s for sure.”

First up for Keane will be his Ascot baptism of fire where his new associations will be put to the test on the grandest stage of racing.

Colin Keane tasted Classic glory on Field Of Gold
Colin Keane tasted Classic glory on Field Of Gold (Niall Carson/PA)

However, the Irishman is content to ride the waves of his brief honeymoon period ahead of a week in the spotlight in Berkshire, where Field Of Gold could prove the ace in his swelling pack as he looks to add to his two previous triumphs at the Royal meeting.

“I won’t be able to tell you what the pressure is like until next week and we’ll take it as it comes,” Keane added.

“I’ve a nice book of rides and the hardest problem is often getting on these horses, so it’s a nice problem to have. You just have to take your chances.

“You are riding these horses for brilliant trainers and they will guide you the best way possible and you will have done your homework for sure. You’re more looking forward to it than anything.”

Juddmonte confirm Colin Keane to take retained rider role

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Juddmonte has announced the appointment of six-time Irish champion jockey Colin Keane as its retained rider with immediate effect.

Keane has ridden several big-race winners for the leading owner-breeders, most recently steering John and Thady Gosden’s Field Of Gold to Classic success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas after taking over in the saddle from Kieran Shoemark.

With Keane’s contract starting immediately, he is set to partner Juddmonte horses trained in Britain, Ireland and France, meaning he will be in line for a number of high-profile rides at Royal Ascot next week including Lead Artist in the Queen Anne, Field Of Gold in the St James’s Palace Stakes and Babouche in the Commonwealth Cup.

Field of Gold and Colin Keane after winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas
Field of Gold and Colin Keane after winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas (Niall Carson/PA)

Juddmonte’s chief executive, Douglas Erskine Crum, said in a statement: “In the past we have had retained jockey relationships (including with Pat Eddery, Richard Hughes and James Doyle) but in recent years we have preferred to work with the many talented jockeys retained by our various trainers around the world.

“We have decided that the time has now come to revert to the security and consistency which comes from having a single jockey retainer relationship. We are delighted that Colin Keane has committed himself to Juddmonte.

“He is one of the most exciting and talented riders of his generation, he shares Juddmonte’s values, we know him well and we warmly welcome him to the Juddmonte team.”

Keane said: “I have grown up watching these famous colours carried to many victories in all the top races around the globe so it’s very special for me to be asked to ride as first jockey for Juddmonte.

“I’m excited to get started and look forward to working with some of the best trainers in Ireland, England, and France. Tony Hind will look after my UK rides as he has worked closely with Juddmonte for many years now through Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore.”