Although Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas has eluded trainer John Gosden, his name has long been associated with success in the British racing industry. In the Group One three-year-old classic over the 1,600-meter straight course of the historic Rowley Mile on Saturday, striking grey Field of Gold has a good chance of making up for that omission. Respected paddock watchers were united in praising Field of Gold’s physical development since last seen at Longchamp in October, as the Juddmonte-owned son of Kingman makes his 2025 comeback in last month’s Group Three Craven Stakes, which is run over the Guineas course and distance. Field of Gold appeared untidy and ran too aggressively on the softened ground, course that day in the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1,400m) finishing fourth.
Jockey Kieran Shoemark remarked, “I haven’t seen a horse who has done as well as him from two [years old] to three.” When you are on him, you can sense how much stronger he has become. He has all the qualities you look for in an excellent horse, including a wonderful constitution. He can speed and settle into a pleasant pace, and he is vigilant from the gates. In the Craven Stakes, Field of Gold settled at the back and finished last of nine runners approximately 600m out before tearing past one competitor after another to win by a margin of three and a half lengths. In Saturday’s field of 11, Field of Gold and Shoemark will depart from gate 10. The winner of the 2000 Guineas 10 times is Aidan O’Brien 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
Since all ten of his winners have made their seasonal reappearances, the Irish champion trainer does not enter preparation races with his serious Guineas candidates. Additionally, Expanded will return to Newmarket 203 days after finishing the Group One Dewhurst Stakes (1,400m) a neck second to Shadow of Light. Given that it was only seven days after his 1,400-meter maiden at the Curragh, his performance is particularly impressive. Although the Ballydoyle stable hasn’t discovered the answer to the first English Classic since 2019, Aidan O’Brien has won the 2000 Guineas ten times, and Ryan Moore’s horse Expanded is an intriguing contender. With his serious Guineas prospects, the Irish champion trainer doesn’t participate in preparation races, with his 10 winners all making their seasonal reappearances.
Additionally, Expanded will return to Newmarket 203 days after finishing the Group One Dewhurst Stakes (1,400m) a neck second to Shadow of Light. Given that it was only seven days after his 1,400-meter maiden at the Curragh, his performance is particularly impressive. Having won the Group One Middle Park Stakes (1,200m) by a four-length margin last September, Shadow Of Light (Mickael Barzalona) is undefeated over the Rowley Mile. Although there are doubts about his endurance for Saturday’s difficult 1,600-meter race, William Buick, Godolphin’s top rider, has chosen to team up with the lower official-rated Ruling Court. Justify’s youngster has demonstrated his endurance, having accelerated stylishly from the back to record a six-length winning margin in Meydan’s Listed equivalent of the 2000 Guineas (1,600m) in March.
Ruling Court and Shadow of Light are both trained by Charlie Appleby, who has won the 2000 Guineas twice in the past three years. The Jockey Club will be offering nine races from Newmarket for wagering on Saturday, including the 2000 Guineas. There will also be simulcast coverage of three races at Morphettville, with the Group One South Australian Derby (2,500m) serving as the main event.
