Field Of Gold delivered a commanding performance at Royal Ascot, storming to victory and firmly establishing himself as the class of his generation. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the colt followed in the hoofprints of his sire, Kingman, by bouncing back from a Guineas defeat at Newmarket with triumphs in the Irish equivalent and now at Ascot.
The 8/11 favourite, partnered with Colin Keane, surged past rivals Henri Matisse and Ruling Court to win by a decisive three-and-a-half lengths. The result was a reversal of fortunes from the 2000 Guineas, where Ruling Court had edged him into second. This time, Field Of Gold was untouchable.
John Gosden remarked, “Like father, like son,” referencing Kingman’s similar route to Royal Ascot glory in 2014. Gosden admitted to nerves pre-race but praised the horse’s professionalism and maturity: “He’s a pleasure to train because he is a pretty relaxed character.”
Originally, the Irish Guineas wasn’t part of Field Of Gold’s campaign, and Gosden now faces a decision on whether to freshen the colt for the Sussex Stakes or consider the Eclipse Stakes later in the season. “He’s had a trial and two Guineas and now this — a lot of racing for this early in the season,” Gosden noted.
Meanwhile, Royal hopes were dashed in the Ascot Stakes as Reaching High, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ryan Moore, could only finish ninth. The favourite was boxed in and lacked racing room until it was too late to make an impact.
The 20/1 outsider Ascending, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Billy Lee, claimed victory in the two-and-a-half-mile test. Irish runners swept the top four places, with Nurburgring in second and Joseph O’Brien’s Comfort Zone and Leinster completing the frame.
Swifteradio.com
