Juddmonte Farms have been firing through spring of the euro flat season and they produced the quinella overnight at The Curragh with Kingman colts finishing one and two in the Group I Irish 2,000 Guineas (1m) and leading the way was Field of Gold, who was purchased as a weanling for €530,000.
A big eye-catching grey, Field of Gold won the Group III Solario Stakes at two and was last seen running second to Ruling Court in the Group I Newmarket 2000 Guineas.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden and ridden by Colin Keane, Field of Gold started a hot favourite and made light work of the assignment bolting away to win by nearly four lengths over the Harry Charlton trained Kingman colt Cosmic Year.
“I was sorry to get beaten in the British Guineas when Field of Gold finished so well, but to come on a plane and see something different, he'll have learned a lot, and they grow in mentality and in stature,” said John Gosden.
“Colin [Keane] rode him beautifully. In truth, I was concerned he might over-race with no cover on the outside, but I told Colin if he relaxes on the way down [to the start], he should relax on the way back. When he quickened he went, and it took two or three strides and he was off.
“Let's hope the owners want to go to Ascot and have a look at the St James's Palace Stakes.”
Field of Gold was purchased for € 530,000 from the Roundhill Stud draft at the 2022 Goffs November Foal Sale where he was the second highest priced horse at the sale. He has the overall record of four wins and two placings from seven starts.
He is a half-brother to stakes-winner Zanbaq being the best of three winners from well bred Shamardal mare Princess de Lune, a winning sibling to Group I winner Zabeel Prince, Group II winners Puissance de Lune (who raced and stands at stud in Australia) and Queen Power, as well as the dam of Group I winner Rizeena.
Field of Gold is the 14th Group I winner for Kingman, who has wone son at stud in Australia and it’s Widden Stud Victoria’s Group I winner King Colorado, who covered 97 mares in his first season last spring and stands at a fee of $16,500.
