3 minute read
Field Of Gold looks set to be the focus of the Curragh on Saturday (24 May) when he faces eight rivals in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas (1600m), the first Irish Classic of the season.
His narrow defeat by William Buick's mount Ruling Court in Newmarket's G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) has certainly been biggest talking point in British racing this season with the main consequence of a career-best performance being the replacement of jockey Kieran Shoemark by six-times Irish champion Colin Keane.
John Gosden, who trains in partnership with his son Thady, has also hinted that another possible consequence may be a radical alteration of tactics for this charismatic three-year-old grey colt.
In both starts this season – firstly with his outstanding last-to-first surge in Newmarket's G3 Craven Stakes (1600m) and then in the Guineas – the emphasis has been on initial restraint.
The hugely successful 74-year-old Gosden, trainer of more than 3,000 winners including Field Of Gold 's sire Kingman in 2014 Irish 2000 Guineas, said this week: "We could go and lead if we are not happy with the pace. That is the alternative – we can push forward if we need to."
Reflecting on that fast-finishing half-length Guineas loss at Newmarket, Gosden said: "The winner has kicked and gone and we ran out of racetrack. Given another 25 yards and the race would have been ours."
Field Of Gold completed his preparation with an easy 1400m solo piece of work on Newmarket's Al Bahathri gallop on Wednesday (21 May).
Interestingly, his powerhouse owners Juddmonte are also sending the unbeaten Cosmic Year, another classy offspring of Kingman, to action in the Irish 2000 Guineas. The mount of Oisin Murphy, his rating is currently 10lb shy of that of Field Of Gold but it was difficult not to be dazzled by the style with which he accelerated in Newmarket's Listed King Charles II Stakes (1400m) early this month.
Other live aspirants for this coveted Classic prize at the Curragh include Hotazhell, whose rider Shane Foley steered 25/1 outsider Romanised to triumph back in 2018. Not only is Hotazhell a Group 1 winner, having landed the G1 Futurity Trophy Stakes (1400m) at Doncaster last October, but his courageous attitude is a given.
Trainer Jessica Harrington is fulsome in praise of the son of Too Darn Hot: "He loves a battle. He loves looking at the other horse and saying 'I'm better than you'."
Fast ground would not be ideal for Hotazhell but if the rain stays away that should be favourable for Ryan Moore's mount Officer. On just his third start this strong-looking son of Dubawi had little difficulty proving himself over this course and distance with a comfortable victory in this month's Listed Tetrarch Stakes (1600m).
His trainer Aidan O'Brien not only has a remarkable record in this race – having won it 12 times – but has his elite Ballydoyle-based team also boasting a tremendous recent winning strike-rate.
