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Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Trends and Newmarket evidence suggest Field Of Gold the one to beat in Irish 2000 Guineas
Statistical trends point to success for Field Of Gold in Saturday's Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh, and for many, so will the evidence of their own eyes. The Juddmonte-owned son of Kingman started a hot favourite for the Newmarket Guineas earlier this month, only to emerge an unlucky loser. His jockey Kieran Shoemark admitted to over-confidence, such was the ease with which Field Of Gold travelled into the dip at Newmarket. However, the split seconds it took for the imposing grey colt to organise himself in the dip proved crucial. By the time he got rolling, he'd run out of real estate and failed by half a length to overhaul Ruling Court. It cost Shoemark his job. Ireland's champion jockey Colin Keane steps in for the ride in the same colours he won the Guineas five years ago on Siskin. READ MORE Twice in the last three years, the Newmarket runner-up has secured Guineas consolation at the Curragh. Rosallion last year and Native Trail (2022) both won at odds-on. Perhaps the real echo from the past, though, is 2014. Field Of Gold's sire Kingman was unluckily beaten for the only time in his brilliant career at Newmarket and subsequently sluiced up at the Curragh. He, too, was trained by John Gosden and owned by Juddmonte. The operation moulded over decades into one of the world's great racing enterprises by the late Prince Khalid Abdullah continues to be a big player at elite level despite the founder's death in 2021. Their power is stamped all over Ireland's first classic of the year. The unbeaten Cosmic Year, another son of Kingman, would probably be the favourite himself in Field Of Gold's absence. Juddmonte's third runner, Windlord, is not a no-hoper either. Jonquil's narrow and possibly unlucky defeat in the French Guineas underlines Juddmonte's strength in depth among top mile colts this season, but the form book still says it hasn't resulted in a big mile classic. Maybe desperation to avoid that is behind coming into Saturday's contest so locked and loaded. That might even persuade some of a certain unease that Field Of Gold alone isn't being relied on. The upshot, though, is a powerful show of strength in Coolmore's backyard. The Irish behemoth ran Expanded at Newmarket, and his failure there means he is discarded by Ryan Moore in favour of the Tetrarch winner Officer. Paddington used that course trial on-route to Guineas glory a couple of years ago. Scorthy Champ also got overrun at Newmarket, but the unknown factor is last season's Futurity winner Hotazhell. Jessica Harrington took hm out of the 'Poulains' at Longchamp due to fast ground. No one will be looking at the skies more than the veteran trainer. Oisín Murphy also won't mind any break in the weather. The Kerry man has yet to ride a classic winner in Ireland, but in Cosmic Year, he has a colt that could thrive on a little ease in the ground. Unbeaten in three starts to date, Cosmic Year landed a Listed contest at Newmarket last time and is a colt of considerable potential. He kicks off a notable Group One weekend for Murphy, who also rides for Juddmonte in Sunday's Tattersalls Gold Cup on board the top-class Kalpana. He is also on Flight, who will attempt to go one better than her second at Newmarket in the 1000 Guineas. A lot of Juddmonte eggs are being put into the Curragh Guineas festival basket, including the leading 1000 hope Swelter. She will attempt to be a first success for the famed green and pink silks in that classic. Over a quality weekend, though, there could be a danger in overthinking the permutations of Saturday's big race. It's hard to dispute the widespread belief that the best horse in the race didn't win the Guineas at Newmarket. Gosden's decision to axe Shoemark spoke volumes about what he thought about it. It has opened a prime opportunity for Keane, who knows the Curragh backwards. 'I think he will be suited by the Curragh, and I would hope that is the case,' said Gosden, before pointing to tactical adaptability in his colt that's always useful. 'We could go and make the running if we are not happy with the pace. That is the alternative, so we could go that way with him if we need to.' Saturday's main support event, the Group Two Weatherbys Greelands, has a European debut for Australian sprinter Storm Boy. The son of Justify brings a big reputation but not Group One winning form. The tried and trusted My Mate Alfie could prove tough to beat. Saturday's extended nine-race card features in the Tote World Pool operated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. It is the first time the Guineas has been included in the lucrative co-mingle operation. Last year's Irish Derby was the Curragh's first nine-race card in modern times.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Colin Keane a class act but to ditch Kieran Shoemark with his strike rate? That was quite something
FOR the second time in three years Colin Keane appears to have been gifted an Irish Classic – when your luck is in your luck is in. Keane, of course, rides red-hot favourite Field of Gold in Saturday's Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, live on ITV. 1 He takes the ride off Kieran Shoemark, who was dumped by either John & Thady Gosden or Juddmonte or both – no-one seems to know the truth - after suffering a narrow defeat in the Newmarket equivalent. My Saturday NAP Wasn't beaten far in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on return from 76 days off and can strip fitter for the run Three years ago Keane picked up winner Westover for the same owners in the Irish Derby after Rob Hornby was seemingly rejected for his performance on that horse at Epsom. On paper it was a gimme and that's how it turned out. I like Keane. He's a six-time champion jockey and has always been charming when I have met him over the years, which was quite a lot in the days when Irish racing was shown on Attheraces. He's also got a sense of humour and is fun. Keane has built up a terrific relationship with Ger Lyons, a man who knows a fine rider when he sees one. And the Meath man has done well for Juddmonte. As well as Westover, Siskin took this race for the Saudi team in 2020 and Babouche scooted up in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes. Irish folk are much more passionate about horse racing than those in the UK, and most won't have a word said against Keane. I'd agree with them. Keane is a class act. But it's always interesting to put a few facts in the mix, particularly in a situation like the one with Field of Gold. Keane rode Juddmonte's Detain, another Gosden animal, in the French 2000 Guineas the other day. The horse was never placed to challenge before running on well. Nothing was said by anyone about the ride, and here we are a few days later with the jockey gaining the biggest mount of them all. If Shoemark had ridden Detain in that way – whether it was a poor ride or not, and I'm not saying it was - the world would have gone mad. I guess that's just life. Equally, Ryan Moore can have a moment he'd like to alter and not a mention. That's the esteem he's held in. In the last five years Keane trades at 13 per cent wins to rides at the Curragh, with 69 successes from 517 mounts. Moore is at 31 per cent with 92 victories from 299 rides. Of course, riding for Ballydoyle his statistics should be impressive, but it's a huge difference. The point is in no way to slate Keane. His talents are clear for all to see and as I have said I'm a fan. It's just the 'one jockey is rubbish' and 'another jockey is amazing' attitude on social media is rarely backed up with statistics. Field of Gold, taught to now settle beautifully by Shoemark, would probably have won the 2000 Guineas at HQ on another day. He will forever wish he had pushed a few strides sooner. But so might the actual hero Ruling Court and so might Shadow of Light, who got there too soon and finished third. Nevertheless, it was enough for the Gosdens or Juddmonte or both to sack a man who, in 2024, was trading for the owners at 30 per cent wins to rides. To throw away someone who is winning for you at that rate is quite something. Would Moore or Keane have been sacked by Ballydoyle or Lyons if they had handled Field of Gold in similar vein? I suggest not. I find all these relationships fascinating. It's part of what makes this such an interesting sport. Shoemark, incidentally, put up one of the rides of the season at Kempton on Wednesday night on roughie Radiant Beauty. No-one seemed to care, but it was pure genius. I really hope Field of Gold wins. He's a gorgeous, impressive horse. The type we should enjoy all season and possibly in 2026 as well. Juddmonte make it interesting by running unbeaten Harry Charlton inmate Cosmic Year under the unstoppable Oisin Murphy, while Moore and O'Brien team up with Officer. Coincidentally, the Bob Baffert-trained Officer was the 4-6 favourite for the 2001 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He was beaten by O'Brien's Johannesburg. Perhaps they just liked the name! Rock Band Keane sang on their Hopes and Fears album 'Everybody's Changing'. Not everybody, just the jockey of Field of Gold. The colt's fans, however, remain loyal, unlike some, to a son of Kingman who should rule this afternoon. Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Irish Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Colin Keane snapped up by Gosden team for 2000 Guineas favourite Field Of Gold
Colin Keane will hope classic trends continue in Saturday's Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas as Ireland's champion jockey has been snapped up for the ante-post favourite Field Of Gold. Runner up to Ruling Court in the Newmarket Guineas earlier this month, Field Of Gold will bid for classic consolation in the Curragh's €500,000 highlight. Field Of Gold's sire Kingman managed that feat in 2014 after an unlucky defeat at Newmarket. Two of the last three Irish Guineas heroes – Native Trial (2022) and Rosallion a year ago – also went one better at the Curragh. That Newmarket defeat cost Field Of Gold's former jockey Kierean Shoemark his job as number one rider to John and Thady Gosden who said they would instead adopt a 'best available' policy. READ MORE In Keane's case that comes with superb local knowledge. The six-time champion jockey landed the Curragh Guineas five years ago on Sisken for Field Of Gold's Juddmonte ownership. He also won the Irish Derby for Juddmonte on Westover after replacing Rob Hornby. Keane regularly dons Juddmonte's famous green and pink silks in Ireland including at Naas on Sunday when victorious on Babouche in the Lacken Stakes. A day later it was confirmed that the Gosden team have got Keane for their grey star. '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 the 30-year-old Irish rider. '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. Lady Iman ridden by jockey Colin Keane after winning the Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Blackbeard Fillies Sprint Stakes. Photograph: : Brian Lawless/PA 'Winning the Irish Guineas a few years ago for Ger (Lyons) 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,' he added. Field Of Gold is a general 8/11 favourite to emerge on top in Saturday's first Irish classic of 2025 although the complexion of the race will become more clear following Tuesday's acceptance stage. The Juddmonte team has already nailed their colours to the mast though and confirmed that Field Of Gold will be joined in the Guineas field by both Cosmic Year and the outsider Windlord. Oisin Murphy will be on board Cosmic Year who maintained his unbeaten record in a Listed contest at Newmarket last time. Another high profile cross-channel challenger could be Rashabar. Bryan Meehan's runner landed last year's Coventry Stakes and has been runner up in his three starts since, including last month's Greenham at Newbury behind Jonquil. The home defence is likely to include Joseph O'Brien's Scorthy Champ who was out of the frame in Newmarket and Hotazhell, a late withdrawal from the French Guineas by Jessica Harrington due to quick ground conditions at Longchamp. Lake Victoria tops betting lists for Sunday's 1000 Guineas but Juddmonte have a major player in the fillies' classic too. Swelter is on course to try to deliver the operation created by the late Prince Khalid Abdualla with a first ever success in the race. Trained next door to the track by Dermot Weld, Swelter is unbeaten in two starts and will again be ridden by Chris Hayes. Saturday's Curragh card is set to clash with Kildare's Joe McDonagh Cup clash with Down which has a 2pm start in nearby Newbridge, although track officials played down the likelihood of any significant impact. 'We will manage that in terms of people being able to see the match at the Curragh if they want to see it,' said the course's chief executive Brian Kavanagh. 'The GAA fixture list is an ever present during the summer and this is a round-robin game as opposed to knockout. I don't think it will be a big factor. 'You also had the situation where the rugby finals were usually on that day and Leinster were knocked out. So, there's a benefit to an extent of there being no Irish team in the rugby,' he added.
