Trainer John Gosden’s name has long been synonymous with success in the British racing world, but Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas has so far eluded his grasp.
On Saturday (3 May), striking grey Field Of Gold has a favourite chance of righting that omission in the Group 1 three-year-old Classic over the straight 1600m of the historic Rowley Mile.
In the moments leading up to the 2025 reappearance of the Juddmonte-owned son of Kingman in last month’s G3 Craven Stakes – run over the Guineas course and distance – respected paddock observers were united in complimenting Field Of Gold’s physical progress since last seen at ParisLongchamp in October. That day – in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1400m) – Field Of Gold had looked raw and galloped too keenly on the softening ground, finishing fourth.
The point is echoed by his jockey Kieran Shoemark: “I haven’t witnessed a horse who has done as well as him from two (years) to three.
“He has strengthened so much and you can feel that when you are on him. He has a great constitution and everything you want from a good horse. He’s alert from the gates, he can settle off a nice pace and he can quicken.”
Settling at the rear in the Craven Stakes, Field Of Gold was last of nine runners about 600m out, before scything past one rival after another to win by a going-away three and a half lengths.
The 29-year-old Shoemark had a tough initiation year in 2024 after replacing the now US-based Frankie Dettori as first-choice jockey to Gosden – in training partnership these days with his son Thady. But things are looking much more productive after a batch of confidence-inducing winning rides so far in 2025 with the rider now angling for his first British Classic success. Field Of Gold and Shoemark will leave from gate ten in this 11-runner Classic encounter.
Aidan O’Brien has won the 2000 Guineas ten times, and though the Ballydoyle stable has not found the key to the opening English Classic since 2019, it has an interesting candidate in Ryan Moore’s mount Expanded.
The great Irish trainer does not do preparation races with his serious Guineas candidates, those ten winners all making their seasonal reappearances. And Expanded will arrive back at Newmarket 203 days since he had finished a neck second to Shadow Of Light in a gripping finish to the G1 Dewhurst Stakes (1400m). That performance glistens especially as it came just seven days after his career debut in a 1400m maiden at the Curragh.
Shadow Of Light (Mickael Barzalona) is unbeaten over the Rowley Mile, having previously romped to a four-length verdict in the G1 Middle Park Stakes (1200m) last September. His ability is unquestioned but there are questions over his stamina for Saturday’s testing 1600m which is perhaps why William Buick – Godolphin’s number one rider – has opted to pair up with the lower official rated Ruling Court. The son of Justify’s stamina is proven, having accelerated stylishly from the back to record a six-length winning margin in Meydan’s Listed equivalent of the 2000 Guineas (1600m) in March.
Charlie Appleby, who trains both Ruling Court and Shadow Of Light, has won the 2000 Guineas twice in the last three years.
