Field Of Gold can ‘close the circle’, says Gosden

Field Of Gold can “close the circle” and gain Newmarket redemption for his illustrious sire Kingman when he bids to provide John Gosden with a first success in the Betfred 2000 Guineas.

The opening Classic of the season is one of the few omissions from a decorated career in the training ranks, but now alongside son Thady, Gosden feels he has his best candidate since Kingman’s agonising reversal in the 2014 edition of the Rowley Mile feature.

“I haven’t had a horse like this for the Guineas since probably his father and I’m enjoying it, it’s great, and it’s nice to have a horse of this quality,” said Gosden.

“He’s developed well from two to three and has a lot of scope about him and will probably be able to go further in time, there is no doubt about that.

“When you have horses running in these type of races it makes it easier to get out of bed in the morning and the 2000 Guineas seems to be the glaring omission from my CV to everyone else but not to me.

“It’s nice to have a horse in the race who is favourite, but it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to go and win it.”

Field Of Gold has already followed in his father’s footsteps by winning the Solario Stakes at two before impressing in his pre-Guineas trial – Kingman of course hosing up in the Greenham in contrast to his son’s Craven triumph.

And after watching the sponsor’s 7-4 favourite stretch his legs up Warren Hill on Thursday morning, the Clarehaven handler remembered that fateful day 11 years ago, when Kingman snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and Night Of Thunder stole the show late on.

“He had won the Greenham in good style and got well ahead here in the Guineas,” explained Gosden at a media event arranged by the Jockey Club.

“I think he just pricked his ears and thought he had done enough and a very good horse came and caught him late. He’s turned out to be a top, top stallion and it’s turned out to be an illustrious Guineas.”

On the similarities between this year’s model and his sire, Gosden added: “Kingman was a different sort of make of a horse – a big, powerful bull of a horse and very relaxed. Kingman’s favourite habit was eating and sleeping.

“But they are both Juddmonte and it’s same owner and breeder, so to that extent it would be like trying to close the circle (if he was to win), that’s for sure – we will just have to see on Saturday.”

Kingman went on to score at Royal Ascot in the St James’s Palace Stakes and Gosden alluded to that prestigious race’s place in the calendar as a possible reason many of his Group One winners at a mile often flourish later in the campaign.

Gosden explained: “I have in the past, in truth, probably targeted the St James’s Palace and often wanted to bring them to their peak at Ascot – that’s where your English, French and Irish Guineas meet and I’ve had a lot of luck in that race. Royal Ascot is Royal Ascot.

“It’s partly the way I train and plan them and partly not quite having the horse at the time. I think in my first year here Anshan finished third (in 1990) and if we have the right horse we will always go for it.”

Following a below-par 2024, the Gosden team have made a blistering start to the new campaign with Field Of Gold’s Craven success just one of a host of early season big-race victories for the resurgent Bury Road operation.

The fine form of the stable has also allowed number one jockey Kieran Shoemark to silence some of the doubters and Gosden has pledged his support to the 29-year-old once again ahead of a huge afternoon for the whole team.

Gosden said: “You’re only as good as the horses you are training and riding and some people seem to think horses are like Formula One cars. You only have to watch that sport to see if someone can’t set their car up right then a team who is dominant isn’t quite so dominant anymore.

“But if you have the horses and the horses are healthy and well then it all falls into place, it is simple as that. But if you don’t and they are not right in themselves then it will go the other way, it’s just the nature of horse racing.”