Gosden wary of ‘surprise package' in 2000 Guineas field

Glasgow Times

02-05-2025

The Clarehaven handler has yet to win the first Classic of the summer, but has an outstanding chance of claiming that elusive piece of silverware when the son of Kingman bids to become the first colt to complete the Craven Stakes/2000 Guineas double since Haafhd in 2004.
Field Of Gold's rivals include Dewhurst runner-up Expanded – who will bid to give Aidan O'Brien a record-extending 11th in in the one-mile feature – and Charlie Appleby's duo of Shadow Of Light and Ruling Court, with Gosden wary of those yet to show their hand in a recognised trial this spring.
Shadow Of Light ridden by William Buick (left) and Expanded (right) are amongst Field Of Gold's rivals (Nigel French/PA)
'There are a lot of horses coming in to the race that have had away days at the Curragh or somewhere else and they are the ones I will always respect as you never know how much they have improved,' said Gosden, who trains Field Of Gold alongside his son Thady.
'They have good form at two and if they have improved dramatically over winter, they could be a surprise package – it's not like everyone has shown their hand, they haven't. I will be very interested to see how those horses look in the paddock and they could be the main dangers.
'Then there is the horse who has raced in Dubai this year (Ruling Court) who looks a very talented horse and he's fully tuned, he's another to watch out for. I will be very interested to see how those horses look in the paddock and they could be the main dangers, the ones who haven't run in a trial in Europe this year.'
The son of Kingman emulated his father by winning both the Solario Stakes at two and then impressing in his pre-Guineas assignment and having left a little to work on for the big day, Gosden is now hopeful he can repeat that Rowley Mile display with Classic honours at stake.
Field Of Gold has impressed throughout his career to date (David Davies/PA)
'He won the Solario at two, but got stuck in the mud in Longchamp and it was really deep ground and it was rather a non-race for him,' Gosden continued.
'He trained well and the Craven was an obvious race to look at all the way through. I think he was on 85 per cent in the Craven and there is no doubt that race has just sharpened him.
'I think in the Craven they probably over-raced a little bit and there were fresh horses in front and therefore they went very hard and Field Of Gold was in the perfect position to go past them.
'Having said that, the race set up nicely and he finished strongly. I expected him to run a good race and didn't expect him to win like that.'
John Gosden has the chance to finally win the 2000 Guineas (Mike Egerton/PA)
It is 35 years since Anshan, Gosden's first runner in the race, finished third and since then the likes of Raven's Pass and Kingman himself have all come up short in the Newmarket resident's quest to win the local feature.
However, the Bury Road trainer is leaning on his colt's cool demeanour ahead of his attempt to justify big-race favouritism and expects him to also thrive over further in time.
'He's a very laid-back character and a very relaxed horse, just a pleasure to be around and an easy horse from that point of view,' explained Gosden.
'That will stand him in good stead in the prelims and everything else and he's always been that sort of character.
'I don't think he's an out-and-out miler and I do think he will be a horse who is comfortable in something like the Eclipse if we ever got to that time, I think a mile and a quarter would be well within his compass.'