Juddmonte and Kingman one-two in the Irish 2000 Guineas

Field Of Gold emulated his sire Kingman with an emphatic triumph in the Gr.1 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh yesterday. He burst clear of Cosmic Year inside the final furlong to lead home a brilliant one-two for both Juddmonte and Kingman.

Taken from the European Bloodstock News, 25th May 2025:

Winner of the Gr.3 Solario Stakes last season and much too good for the opposition in the Gr.3 Craven Stakes on his three-year-old return, controversy had surrounded Field Of Gold’s defeat in the Gr.1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket just over three weeks ago. Some onlookers felt that jockey Kieran Shoemark had given his mount too much to do when finishing a fast-finishing second behind Ruling Court, ultimately losing out by half a length.

Ridden for the first time yesterday by Colin Keane, Field Of Gold was drawn widest of all in stall nine and sat towards the back of the pack on the outer. Having been caught out by a lack of pace at Newmarket, steps were taken to avoid a repeat yesterday and the Andrew Balding-trained Juddmonte colt Windlord (Dubawi) soon made his way to the front. He continued to hold that role until just over a furlong out, by which point Field Of Gold had been nudged into contention. Although his acceleration might not be push-button, as was discovered to his cost at Newmarket especially in the dip there, the imposing grey is a sight to behold when hitting top gear. Keane really got serious at the furlong pole and the response was sublime, with Field Of Gold simply devouring the ground in front of him to streak clear of the opposition.

Cosmic Year, a Juddmonte homebred, lost his unbeaten tag but otherwise emerged with an enhanced profile, staying on well to finish second, while the Gr.1-winning two-year-old Hotazhell was a game third on his first start this season. Last season’s shock Gr.2 Coventry Stakes winner Rashabar proved he is over the setback that kept him out of the Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains in fourth and 50/1 shot Comanche Brave exceeded expectations in fifth.

Speaking to Racing TV afterwards, John Gosden said: “He’s right up there with his father [Kingman, who was also trained by Gosden], I think he’s as good as his father right now. The Irish Guineas is on a very fair track, and I wanted to come here and prove he was a Classic winner, so it was very important to come here. I was sorry we got beaten in the English Guineas, but he finished so well.”

Field Of Gold is now a warm favourite for the Gr.1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Gosden added: “It’s good, solid form, it was a proper race, as good as the English Guineas. The winner of the English Guineas goes to the Derby, so that makes it very exciting Let’s hope the owners want to go to Ascot and have a look at the St James’s Palace. That’s what Thady told me to do, so I’ll listen!”

A €530,000 purchase by Juddmonte at the Goffs November Foal Sale, Field Of Gold was bred by Roundhill Stud and is the 14th individual Gr.1 winner for Kingman, who also rebounded from a narrow 2,000 Guineas reversal at Newmarket to win the Irish equivalent in 2014. He was a first winner in the race for Gosden Senior and the Juddmonte team, though the late Prince Khalid Abdullah’s ownership vehicle also won the race with the Colin Keane-ridden Siskin (First Defence) in 2020.