Latest news with #CravenStakes
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Colin Keane takes over from Kieran Shoemark on Field Of Gold for next Classic
The Irish champion will partner the 2,000 Guineas runner-up in the Irish equivalent after Shoemark was blamed for the colt's defeat at Newmarket Colin Keane will be in the hot seat when 2,000 Guineas runner-up Field Of Gold bids for Classic redemption in Ireland on Saturday. The Craven Stakes winner started favourite to deliver the John & Thady Gosden-stable an overdue first success in the colt's Classic at Newmarket, but was beaten half a length by Godolphin's Ruling Court. The Craven Stakes winner, ridden by Kieran Shoemark, was slow to get into top gear on the Rowley Mile and finished fast but too late to reel in the winner. Shoemark, who had been under the microscope ever since Frankie Dettori quit Britain, subsequently admitted he had been too confident on Field Of Gold and he was dumped by the Gosdens as first choice rider. Thady Gosden said at the time: "Naturally since Saturday myself and John have gone through things together and decided that the best policy moving forward for the stable is to adopt the best available rider strategy. "It's still very early in the season and there's plenty of time left to go but we believe that's the right decision for the stable to have the best available rider - alongside of course the significant number of retained riders pre-existing in the yard." Keane rides regularly in Ireland for Field Of Gold owners Juddmonte through his association with trainer Ger Lyons and will take the mount on the grey at the Curragh. Keane has already tasted Classic glory in the famous Juddmonte silks, having won the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Siskin for Lyons in 2020 and when he was booked by Ralph Beckett for Westover in the Irish Derby in 2022. 'I'm delighted to be asked to ride him, he looks a very good ride going into the race, I'm very much looking forward to it,' said Keane. 'The Juddmonte colours are those that growing up watching racing, you know who they are. I've been very fortunate to win two Classics wearing them and a couple more Group Ones and I'm just delighted to be asked to ride the colt at the weekend. 'Winning the Irish Guineas a few years ago for Ger was one of my best days. It's such a huge race and Juddmonte hadn't long been in the yard, he was their first Group One together. 'To get a horse of Siskin's calibre very early on was very special and for him to then go and win a Classic was very special, it was a brilliant day.' Oisin Murphy, who rode the Gosdens-trained Lead Artist to victory in the Lockinge Stakes for Juddmonte, will partner the owner's Cosmic Year, trained by Harry Charlton, in the Irish Classic.
The Guardian
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Horse racing: 2,000 Guineas day at Newmarket and more
Good afternoon from the Rowley Mile at Newmarket, the historic setting for the 2,000 Guineas, the first Classic of the new Flat season, later today. Eleven runners are due to go to post at 3.35pm BST, and one will take the unique opportunity to add his name to a roll of honour that dates all the way back to 1809. The certain favourite is Field Of Gold, a striking grey, who bolted up in the Craven Stakes over the Classic course-and-distance last month, but he is opposed by several very promising three-year-olds with varying levels of achievement and experience to date. The very live opponents to Field Of Gold, who will be bidding to give his veteran trainer, John Gosden, a long-overdue first victory in the 2,000 Guineas, include Shadow Of Light, who took Britain's most prestigious juvenile event, the Dewhurst Stakes, last October, and Ruling Court, a 'dark' horse in the manner of last year's winner, Notable Speech, with just three runs to his name so far. Shadow Of Light is one of just two juvenile Group One winners in the field – Scorthy Champ, the National Stakes winner, is the other – while Aidan O'Brien relies on Extended as he goes in search of a record-extending 11th Guineas winner. Elsewhere on today's televised card, a competitive renewal of the Palace House Stakes, a significant pointer towards the big sprints to come at Royal Ascot and beyond, is due off at 2.55pm, while a Royal meeting winner from last season, Hand Of God, makes his first start since in the Suffolk Stakes Handicap at 2.20pm. The ITV action is completed by Thirsk's feature event of the season, the Thirsk Hunt Cup Handicap, at 2.35pm, and a quick trip to Sussex for the Conqueror Stakes for fillies at Goodwood at 2pm. The 2025 Flat season will have its first Classic winner in just over three hours' time, and all the build-up as well as the race itself will get in-depth coverage as it happens here on the Guardian's live blog. Share
RTÉ News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
John Gosden wary of challengers to 2000 Guineas favourite Field Of Gold
John Gosden is keen to respect the opposition as his Craven Stakes hero Field Of Gold attempts to end his Betfred 2000 Guineas hoodoo at Newmarket today. 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. "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. "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% in the Craven and there is no doubt that race has just sharpened him. "I think in the Craven they probably overraced 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. "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. "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." Jessica Harrington is targeting a British Classic breakthrough with Green Impact. The Moone-based trainer has enjoyed major success under both codes during her long and illustrious career, from Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup triumphs at Cheltenham to Royal Ascot success and victories in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks. A first win in one of the five Classics on British turf is now on her radar and in Green Impact, who won two of his three juvenile starts including a Group Two verdict over recent Ballysax Stakes scorer Delacroix, she has a horse who is being targeted at a Guineas-Derby double. "Everything has gone according to plan, he's travelled over well and he's in great order," said Harrington. "I'm very happy with him, he's done everything he had to do and it looks like they're putting plenty of water on the track, so hopefully it should be good, fast, safe ground. "He showed plenty of pace last year and it's not as though they'll go slow in the Guineas, they'll go a good gallop. "I think he will end up being a middle-distance horse, but you've got to start somewhere and if all goes well, that (the Derby) is the plan." Another from Ireland is Joseph O'Brien's Scorthy Champ, who signed off his juvenile campaign with a Group One success in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes. O'Brien, who rode Camelot to win the 2000 Guineas in 2012, said: "We've had a good preparation and we're looking forward to it. It's great to be taking part with a live contender for the Guineas, hopefully we have a nice horse for the future and we're excited to get his season started. "It's a 2000 Guineas and you have all the contenders from last season and this season. It looks like most of them are turning up and that's what you expect, the best of their generation, and at this stage of their careers we're going to see who the best one is. "He's matured physically and if anything he is even a bit heavier than maybe we'd like him for his first run back, but that's probably a good way to have him. "We won't have any concerns about the trip and the ground, so we're very much looking forward to it." Charlie Appleby is double-handed in his bid for a third 2000 Guineas success in four years, with William Buick picking the impressive Meydan winner Ruling Court over last season's Dewhurst hero Shadow Of Light (near side), who will be ridden by Mickael Barzalona. When asked whether it was a difficult choice for his stable jockey, Appleby said: "For sure – they're two totally different animals. "Ruling Court has already run and won over the mile and in that respect he was always mooted as our Derby horse – he's the only entry we've made so far. "Subsequently, he came into the Guineas picture and as we know, wherever you finish in a Guineas, it's a great trial for the Derby as long as you feel that when you step up to a mile and a half it's going to bring about further improvement. "That was Will's mindset, he is our Derby horse, he sees out the mile well and he looks fantastic." The concern for Shadow Of Light appears to be whether his stamina will stand up the test, with his trainer adding: "He came up here and had a nice gallop (at the Craven meeting) and what he has done is sharpen up – he's showing us his natural pace from last year. "In doing that it obviously enhances the question over whether he'll stay the mile. We're confident on what we saw last year in the Dewhurst when he won his race and kept going, but at home we are seeing a lot of natural pace, so Will has gone with the one that he feels will see that mile out well." Expanded looked like being Aidan O'Brien's potential third string earlier in the spring, with The Lion In Winter and Twain also in the reckoning, but as they have fallen by the wayside, it is left to the Dewhurst runner-up to fly the Ballydoyle flag. O'Brien said: "We were preparing him for the Curragh on Monday (Tetrarch Stakes) as we'd decided we were going to split him and Twain up with a view towards the Irish Guineas. "Twain then had a little setback earlier this week which meant he couldn't run. He's good again now and we'll look towards the Irish Guineas with him if he's OK. "Expanded is in good form and ran well in the Dewhurst last year, but he even ran in that with the view of him being second-string as it was so soon after his first run. We thought it would do him good for next year. "Then we had to pull out The Lion In Winter and he landed in the front rank, which wasn't really fair to him. He's been thrown into the front rank again."
The Guardian
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Your Guardian Sport weekend: football, world snooker finale and F1 in Miami
After Lamine Yamal stole the Champions League show in Barcelona's semi-final first leg comeback against Inter in midweek, Barney Ronay considers the outrageous talents of the teenager being hailed as a phenomenon that only comes along every 50 years. Promotion to the Premier League is one of Saturday's key footballing themes, so there's no better time to consider the impact of parachute payments. Philippe Auclair writes on why the system benefits the elite when teams such as Burnley and Leeds rejoin top tier within three years. Read now Join Rob Smyth and Simon Burnton for the latest news and buildup to Saturday's football action. Send your thoughts to Tanya Aldred provides updates from day two of the latest round of County Championship matches, with Lancashire facing Gloucestershire at Old Trafford and Somerset taking on Essex at Taunton. Following the gripping final day of the regular season is Rob Smyth, with Burnley and Leeds aiming for the title and 100 points. Join him for the buildup, followed by Ben Fisher's report from Bristol City v Preston and Paul MacInnes at Coventry v Middlesbrough. John Brewin will have all the latest as Aston Villa and Fulham, seventh against eighth, chase a place in Europe. Join him for the buildup from 11.30am, followed by Peter Lansley's report from Villa Park. Greg Wood covers all the action from Newmarket as the John and Thady Gosden-trained Field Of Gold, who won the Craven Stakes over course and distance earlier this month, heads 11 entries for the 2000 Guineas at 3.35pm. Simon Burnton keeps the updates flowing as relegated Leicester and Southampton play for pride and Andy Hunter reports on Everton's revival under David Moyes against another club destined for the Championship, Ipswich. Can McLaren's unflappable Australian Oscar Piastri repeat his recent heroics in the shortened format? With his first report from the day's action on the Miami circuit, our man in Florida, Giles Richards, covers the 100km sprint race. The Premier League title and relegation places have been decided, but Arsenal – who slipped up against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek – can rubberstamp a Champions League place if they beat Bournemouth and Chelsea lose to champions Liverpool on Sunday. Join Scott Murray for live buildup and match updates, followed by report and analysis from David Hytner and Ed Aarons at the Emirates. England's lone Champions Cup hope Northampton travel to Dublin in search of an unlikely upset against Leinster. Saints fell just three points short of victory last season when they met the formidable Irish side at the same stage and to reach their first Champions Cup final since 2011, where they lost out to the Dubliners after an historic comeback, they will need the very best of Fin Smith and Henry Pollock. Luke McLaughlin follows all the tries and big tackles live, followed by Robert Kitson's match report from the Aviva Stadium. In the wake of Real Madrid's Champions League exit and their Copa del Rey final shenanigans after they boycotted the pre-match activities and their demands that the Spanish football federation take action after comments made by the referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea in the buildup to the game, our columnist asks: what next for the Spanish grandees? The F1 spotlight turns back to the the Miami Autodrome with the race for pole. Last year, Lando Norris scored his maiden F1 victory here and McLaren have started this season by taking four wins out of five. However, the English driver trails his teammate Piastri so far this season in the drivers' standings. Can he outshine the rapid Aussie, let alone Red Bull's Max Verstappen?Join John Brewin for the cut and thrust of the showdown, then Giles Richards' report. Tom Bassam and Emillia Hawkins will pick out the best of Saturday's action before looking ahead to Sunday's big matches in the Premier League, Women's Super League and not forgetting the Old Firm derby at midday. Ewan Murray, our Scottish football correspondent, will join too. Email with your views. Every Sunday, our unmissable email newsletter will feature the Guardian's best sports writing of the week. Sign up to get your copy here. Join Tanya Aldred for our continued coverage of the latest county cricket games, including Yorkshire v Warwickshire at Headingley. Duty First is all set for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket after victory at Newbury earlier this month and Greg Wood is primed to cover the second day of the weekend's action. At 33-1 for the Fred Darling, Duty First defied those odds and prompted owners Victorious Racing to add the Archie Watson-trained daughter of Showcasing to the first fillies' Classic of the year. The title won and a domestic treble up for grabs if they beat Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park on 24 May, Celtic are not expected to lower the levels of intensity against their old foes. Oddly, Rangers, 17 points behind the Hoops, have won the past two league derbies before the final Old Firm clash of the season. We'll be following the cut and thrust live, followed by Ewan Murray's match report. Day one of the final at the Crucible and Daniel Harris will follow the action. With persistent speculation about more lucrative offers to stage the showpiece from the likes of Saudi Arabia, or even rebranding the prestige event as a roving spectacular, the 2025 final could be a climax to savour. Can United pull something from the Premier League hat in the tail end of a most dismal season? Ruben Amorim's side are set to record their lowest ever Premier League points tally and won't find much respite in west London, particularly as this fixture comes just days after a pivotal Europa League semi-final first leg at Athletic Bilbao. So expect a host of academy graduates to feature, including 17-year-old striker Chido Obi, Harry Amass and Tyler Fredricson. Join Michael Butler to see if the tyros shine, before John Brewin's report. Chelsea have the title but there's plenty still in the mix with two derbies – Liverpool face Everton plus the Manchester derby at noon – followed by Crystal Palace v Leicester, Tottenham v Chelsea and West Ham v Aston Villa. Join Emillia Hawkins for buildup and live match updates. The title may be in the Reds' pocket but Liverpool are unlikely to ease up on the gas against a Chelsea side under pressure to claim a Champions League place. We'll be following the action live before Jonathan Liew and Barney Ronay provide the very best in sportswriting on the match. George Russell has taken on the senior role with aplomb since Lewis Hamilton's departure for Ferrari and it would be wise not to rule him out in Miami. The 27-year-old Mercedes driver may not be able to match the pace of the McLarens but three podiums in the first five races cannot be ignored. Lap-by-lap commentary comes from Beau Dure in the United States.
North Wales Chronicle
02-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Gosden wary of ‘surprise package' in 2000 Guineas field
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. '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. '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.' 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.'
