Field Of Gold ‘in great order' for Sussex Stakes test

Powys County Times

5 days ago

John Gosden is looking forward to seeing how Field Of Gold fares when faced with the unique demands of Goodwood in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes next week.
The brilliant Juddmonte-owned grey has had a superb campaign so far this year, winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Prior to those runs he has narrowly denied in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and was the winner of the Craven, a superb run of form that leads neatly into the Sussex and very much makes him the horse to beat.
'He's been a grand horse to train, he's done nothing but thrive this year,' said Gosden.
'We've been pleased with his progress all the way through.
'The Sussex is a different test of a horse. If you've ever walked the track, it's quite a surprise, it runs down into a dip, swings up and around.
'You don't want too big a field and a high draw because you are literally down the hill looking at the horses getting the shortest run round up the hill, so the draw is a big factor there if you get a large field.
'The horse is athletic, he's got great balance, and hopefully he'll handle the track well. It's very different to the round mile of Ascot or the Curragh, that's for sure.
'He's in great order, and we're looking forward to running him. It's very much the obvious race to go to for him.'
Field Of Gold could be joined by Lockinge Stakes winner Lead Artist, who proved his suitability for Goodwood when taking the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at this meeting last year and is also owned by the Juddmonte operation.
Gosden said: 'He's in great form, we'll see if he runs, no decision on that yet.
'He bowled along there last year and won in good style. We're not sure if they'll both run at this stage, we're a little far off from the race yet.'
Gosden, who trains alongside his son, Thady, will have plenty of other headline runners at the Goodwood fixture, with French Master and Sweet William both going for the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.
Successful in the Copper Horse Handicap at the Royal meeting, French Master will be up in trip and class, but Gosden said: 'We're hopeful he'll run a good race. He did a little breeze with Sweet William, there wasn't much between them, nicely on the bridle, looking after each other. Sweet William was a neck up, actually.'