Juddmonte Classic Plans: Field Of Gold to bid for Guineas redemption

Running plans for Juddmonte’s crack team of milers have become clearer after Sunday’s French 2000 Guineas, with Field Of Gold poised to join Cosmic Year for Classic action in Ireland and ParisLongchamp runner-up Jonquil now being pointed towards Royal Ascot.

The leading owner has an abundance of riches this season and splitting its trio of star three-year-old colts has proven a somewhat challenging but nevertheless pleasant headache for connections in the early stages of the campaign.

However, after Jonquil’s near miss in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains on Sunday, it looks likely that John and Thady Gosden’s Newmarket runner-up Field Of Gold could bid for Classic redemption by lining up for the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas on May 24 – a race also circled for Harry Charlton’s exciting Cosmic Year.

Barry Mahon, European racing manager for Juddmonte, said: “I think at the minute, Field Of Gold and Cosmic Year will go to the Curragh for the Irish 2000 Guineas and Jonquil will go to Ascot hopefully, depending on how he comes out of the race in France.

“We’ll then decide what we do with the other two after the Curragh at the end of the month.”

It is the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot which is looking most likely for Andrew Balding’s silver medallist on the Bois de Boulogne, with Jonquil’s team delighted with that Classic performance, when beaten only a head by Aidan O’Brien’s Henri Matisse.

“I think Jonquil showed he stayed a mile, so I think the St James’s Palace would be the right race,” continued Mahon.

“He was headed inside the final furlong at Longchamp then battled back and Oisin (Murphy) felt he stayed the mile well. I think the St James’s looks the most obvious target.

“It was an exceptional run by Jonquil and he sat up close to a blistering pace and was still able to execute at the end and just missed out on the line, so I think you can upgrade the run given the pace of the race and his position throughout.

“From his draw in stall 12, he had to get out and get over and ended up where he was – and I thought he ran an unbelievable race and is very exciting.”

Meanwhile, the owners are eyeing a step up in trip for the French Derby (Chantilly, June 1) with the Gosden-trained Detain, who was not disgraced when a little behind Henry Matisse and Jonquil in sixth at the weekend.

“Detain couldn’t lie up with them early on but came home unbelievably well to only be beaten two-and-a-half lengths and we were very happy with him,” added Mahon.

“I think he will step up in trip now and we’ll look at the Prix du Jockey Club with him.”