3 minute read
Field Of Gold looks set to take on his 2000 Guineas conqueror Ruling Court once again after the pair featured among the eleven confirmations for the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
A striking son of Kingman, Field Of Gold suffered a similar fate to his father in the opening Classic of the season when getting going all to late to finish an agonising runner-up behind Ruling Court at Newmarket.
John and Thady Gosden's three-year-old, who landed the Craven Stakes on his reappearance, has since set the record straight with an empathic success in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh. However, he didn't have to face an absent Ruling Court on that occasion as Charlie Appleby's Guineas hero geared up for a crack at the Epsom Derby, but with the latter subsequently withdrawn from the Surrey Downs showpiece on account of the ground, the rematch looks firmly on as Appleby confirmed his stable star would likely remain over the mile trip at Ascot.
Speaking at the July Course in Newmarket after watching some of his Royal Ascot contenders be put through their paces, John Gosden said: "Round two with Ruling Court is exciting and is what Royal Ascot is all about. There will be a fabulous line-up of horses in a lot of races,"
"There was no need for him to come and have a gallop today as he's only just run in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, but he's fine and heading to the St James's Palace.
"We will have to see how the race works out and you have to take a good look at the draw haven't you over the mile at Ascot.
"If you're drawn on the inside you might never see daylight and we'll see how that draw goes and take things from there."
Fresh off the back of his facile success on board Field Of Gold, Colin was appointed as retained rider for leading owner-breeders Juddmonte, with Gosden senior quick to hail the six-time Irish champion jockey's ability in the saddle.
He said: "He's a very talented jockey and horseman and an extremely nice fellow,"
"The travelling will be demanding, but I'm sure he will fit in well once he gets to know all the horses.
"I think if you travel regularly on Ryanair, you might be seeing him. He'll be over plenty riding work as well as at the races and he's come over today especially.
"He's a classy jockey and you're not six-time Irish champion without being at the top of your game as racing over there is tough and no one gives a quarter to anyone. So, to that extent he is very talented and it's an exciting opportunity for him."
Whilst bookmakers view Ruling Court (5/2) as Field Of Gold's major threat, Aidan O'Brien's Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Henri Matisse will also head to Berkshire looking to add to his already shining CV. The Ballydoyle handler is likewise responsible for the confirmations of both Officer and First Wave, while Appleby's impressive Hero Stakes scorer Opera Ballo and Shadow Of Light add further potential depth to the Moulton Paddocks team.
Both the Andrew Balding-trained pair of Jonquil and Windlord remain in the mix for Juddmonte, with Brian Meehan's Rashabar and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Scorthy Champ others in contention at the current stage.
