Field of Gold rolls to dominant Irish 2,000 Guineas win

Field of Gold, beaten half a length in the Group 1 English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 3, asserted his class Saturday with a dominant score in the Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Windlord, the longest shot of a Juddmonte-owned trio in the race that also included Field of Gold and Cosmic Year, bounced off to the early lead. Rashabar and Hotazhell tracked in closest range. Meanwhile, Field of Gold was content to chase outside near the rear of the field, just outside of Cosmic Year.

Approaching the quarter-mile mark, jockey Colin Keane nudged Field of Gold along and the classy gray responded. He quickly gained position outside the field, heading the pacesetter with about three sixteenths of a mile to go. Keane rode him well clear, and they crossed the finish line 3 3/4 lengths clear.

Cosmic Year shifted out past the quarter and ran on with interest but the run was only good enough for second, no match for his fellow Juddmonte color-bearer. Hotazhell chased on for third between horses, finishing another three quarters of a length back. Rashabar, Comanche Brave, Scorthy Champ, Officer, Windlord and Expanded completed the order of finish.

Field of Gold ran a mile in 1:36.58 over ground rated good. He paid $3.40 to win in the pari-mutuel World Pool.

Field of Gold is a 3-year-old Ireland-bred colt by Kingman out of the Shamardal mare Princess De Lune. His third dam is Serena's Sister, a full sister to 11-time Grade 1 winner Serena's Song. He is trained by John and Thady Gosden; John also trained sire Kingman for Juddmonte.

The win in the Irish 2,000 Guineas carries Field of Gold's career record to 7: 4-1-1. It was his first win at the Group 1 level, though he won the Solario (G3) at Sandown as a juvenile and the Craven (G3) at Newmarket at age 3.

It was the first time Keane had ridden Field of Gold in a race. The horse's previous regular rider, Kiaran Shoemark, lost the mount after a ride he described in a Racing TV interview as "too confident" in the English 2000 Guineas.

In an interview with Racing TV after the Irish 2,000 Guineas, trainer John Gosden said that, if all goes well coming out of the race, Field of Gold's next planned start will come in the one-mile St. James's Palace (G1) at Royal Ascot on June 17, the first day of the meeting.