Latest news with #Classic
South Wales Guardian
7 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Field sights set on Sussex gold
Narrowly denied Classic glory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, John and Thady Gosden's grey has made no mistake in two subsequent starts, demonstrating his dazzling acceleration in both the Irish Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. His sire Kingman landed both of those Group One events before completing his hat-trick in this race 11 years ago and Field Of Gold is odds-on to follow suit in the hands of William Buick, who takes over in the saddle from the suspended Colin Keane. SUPERSTAR! FIELD OF GOLD ROUTS THEM IN THE ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES! #RoyalAscot — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 17, 2025 '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,' said John Gosden. 'He does have that great turn of foot, let's hope we get a clear run and he can produce it on the day. 'His father won the Sussex in somewhat cheeky fashion, it was an extraordinary race. They literally crawled, then sprinted in the last two furlongs, and fortunately we got it just right on the line.' Field Of Gold renews rivalry with St James's Palace runner-up Henri Matisse, who had previously landed the French 2000 Guineas for Aidan O'Brien. The Wootton Bassett colt has three and a half lengths to find with the hot favourite from their Royal Ascot meeting and O'Brien is keeping his fingers crossed he can at least close the gap. 'So far everything has gone well since Ascot and we're looking forward to seeing him run,' he said. 'We think he's gone the right way since Ascot.' The older brigade is headed by Docklands and Rosallion, who were split by just a nose when second in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting. Harry Eustace, the trainer of Docklands, said: 'The track should suit him. He has run there before (in 2023) and to the eye was a little disappointing, but it was his first run off the back of his win in the Britannia and, in hindsight, I don't know whether I had him 100 per cent. 'He handled Epsom well, so I have no problem with the cambers at Goodwood. The quality of the race might be another matter. 'It can't be overstated how important he's been for us for the last three years. We'll cherish his two wins at Royal Ascot forever. 'We're a relatively young business and he is by a long way our flagship horse – he has been key to everything that's happened since.' Meanwhile, Richard Hannon will be looking to replicate some of the great days his father enjoyed in this race with the likes of Canford Cliffs and Toronado as he runs his stable star Rosallion. Like Field Of Gold, the son of Blue Point suffered defeat in the 2000 Guineas before landing Classic honours in Ireland and then scoring at Royal Ascot and his loyal pilot Sean Levey is relishing this mouthwatering clash of generations. He told Ladbrokes: 'There's no doubt Field Of Gold is going to be very difficult to beat, based on what we've seen of him so far. He's an exceptional horse, but I think we have the right attributes to take him on. 'He's a four-year-old this year which means he has to give away weight, but he's improved with every run, in my opinion, from the Lockinge to just being denied at Ascot in the Queen Anne. He's improved, as good horses do, and I know he's in a really good place coming into this. 'To be fair, I think we were very unlucky to be denied in the Queen Anne by what was literally the flare of a nostril and he ran into a specialist in Docklands, who was very good on the day. 'But Goodwood is a different story altogether and Rosallion is a good horse who has shown his versatility across a number of racetracks.'
North Wales Chronicle
9 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Field sights set on Sussex gold
Narrowly denied Classic glory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, John and Thady Gosden's grey has made no mistake in two subsequent starts, demonstrating his dazzling acceleration in both the Irish Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. His sire Kingman landed both of those Group One events before completing his hat-trick in this race 11 years ago and Field Of Gold is odds-on to follow suit in the hands of William Buick, who takes over in the saddle from the suspended Colin Keane. SUPERSTAR! FIELD OF GOLD ROUTS THEM IN THE ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES! #RoyalAscot — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 17, 2025 '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,' said John Gosden. 'He does have that great turn of foot, let's hope we get a clear run and he can produce it on the day. 'His father won the Sussex in somewhat cheeky fashion, it was an extraordinary race. They literally crawled, then sprinted in the last two furlongs, and fortunately we got it just right on the line.' Field Of Gold renews rivalry with St James's Palace runner-up Henri Matisse, who had previously landed the French 2000 Guineas for Aidan O'Brien. The Wootton Bassett colt has three and a half lengths to find with the hot favourite from their Royal Ascot meeting and O'Brien is keeping his fingers crossed he can at least close the gap. 'So far everything has gone well since Ascot and we're looking forward to seeing him run,' he said. 'We think he's gone the right way since Ascot.' The older brigade is headed by Docklands and Rosallion, who were split by just a nose when second in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting. Harry Eustace, the trainer of Docklands, said: 'The track should suit him. He has run there before (in 2023) and to the eye was a little disappointing, but it was his first run off the back of his win in the Britannia and, in hindsight, I don't know whether I had him 100 per cent. 'He handled Epsom well, so I have no problem with the cambers at Goodwood. The quality of the race might be another matter. 'It can't be overstated how important he's been for us for the last three years. We'll cherish his two wins at Royal Ascot forever. 'We're a relatively young business and he is by a long way our flagship horse – he has been key to everything that's happened since.' Meanwhile, Richard Hannon will be looking to replicate some of the great days his father enjoyed in this race with the likes of Canford Cliffs and Toronado as he runs his stable star Rosallion. Like Field Of Gold, the son of Blue Point suffered defeat in the 2000 Guineas before landing Classic honours in Ireland and then scoring at Royal Ascot and his loyal pilot Sean Levey is relishing this mouthwatering clash of generations. He told Ladbrokes: 'There's no doubt Field Of Gold is going to be very difficult to beat, based on what we've seen of him so far. He's an exceptional horse, but I think we have the right attributes to take him on. 'He's a four-year-old this year which means he has to give away weight, but he's improved with every run, in my opinion, from the Lockinge to just being denied at Ascot in the Queen Anne. He's improved, as good horses do, and I know he's in a really good place coming into this. 'To be fair, I think we were very unlucky to be denied in the Queen Anne by what was literally the flare of a nostril and he ran into a specialist in Docklands, who was very good on the day. 'But Goodwood is a different story altogether and Rosallion is a good horse who has shown his versatility across a number of racetracks.'
The Citizen
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Brilliant racing at Glorious Goodwood
Aiden O'Brien saddles top stayer Illinois on opening day. There will be plenty of thrilling action at Goodwood Racecourse this week. Picture:Goodwood in England – regarded as the most scenically beautiful racecourse in the world – hosts its famous Glorious Goodwood festival this week: over five days with three Group 1 contests. One of the headliners is the Goodwood Cup, which tops Tuesday's opening card and has attracted a small but elite field of eight stayers. The world's top trainer Aidan O'Brien won the Cup last year with the popular Kyprios and tries to strike again with Illinois (2.37) and Scandinavia (3.40) – who head the market from French Master (6.00). A competitive Chesterfield Cup opens proceedings and Castle Cove (4.33) and Defiance (4.50) are expected to fight it out. Team Valor International's colours, well known in South Africa, will be carried by Take Heart (12.00). Wednesday contains a showstopper in the form of the Sussex Stakes, which sees the best of the current Classic generation clash with the older stars. Six Group 1 winners are expected to line up, with Royal Ascot and Irish Guineas winner – and huge fan favourite – Field Of Gold (odds on), trained by John and Thady Gosden, heading the three-year-old contingent. Rosallion (4.50), who was odds-on for the race last year before being ruled out at the 11th hour, could prove the big grey's toughest challenge yet. Ballydoyle will be represented by Classic winner Henri Matisse (6.00), while Docklands (22.00) adds yet more depth to the field after his Queen Anne triumph last month. Glorious Goodwood is one of the most stylish race meetings in the world, with Panama hats, linen suits and summery frocks the unofficial fashion look. The racecourse is laid out in a curious loop along a ridge overlooking the beautiful Sussex downs. All of this makes for pleasurable TV viewing as one punts away.
Rhyl Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Appleby targets winning farewell for Desert Flower
The Moulton Paddocks handler enjoyed a Classic double at Newmarket in early May, with Desert Flower's success preceded by victory for Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas the previous afternoon, but both have come up short in their subsequent top-level assignments. Ruling Court will join Prix Maurice de Gheest-bound stablemate Shadow Of Light in action at Deauville in the coming weeks, but it is still to be determined where Desert Flower will be seen next as Appleby eyes the perfect end to the high-class filly's career after she was beaten into third place as a hot favourite for the Oaks last month. 'Epsom took it's toll on her and she's back in work now, but I'm not going to pigeon-hole her into any race just yet,' said Appleby. 'There's only really two races left for her and she's not going to be a Breeders' Cup filly. She could be a Prix Jean Romanet filly and realistically that is going to come too soon, but we'll have to see. 'She's a filly that owes us nothing and was always going to be retired at the end of this season. She's far from retirement yet though and I just want to pick the right race to finish it off. 'It could be either a mile or 10 furlongs. A mile event might just become an easier option as the mile-and-a-quarter and mile-and-a-half fillies look the stronger divisions at the moment, so I would probably look for something at a mile if I could.' There may be some indecision regarding Desert Flower's next assignment, but the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano was immediately highlighted by Appleby as Ruling Court's next destination following his creditable third place finish in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Appleby added: 'He's targeted to head to Deauville and I'm a big believer in getting their heads in front to gain confidence. 'It's pointless stepping up and stepping up and keep getting chinned as after a certain amount of time they lose interest. There's a method behind it and hopefully it pays off.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Appleby targets winning farewell for Desert Flower
The Moulton Paddocks handler enjoyed a Classic double at Newmarket in early May, with Desert Flower's success preceded by victory for Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas the previous afternoon, but both have come up short in their subsequent top-level assignments. Ruling Court will join Prix Maurice de Gheest-bound stablemate Shadow Of Light in action at Deauville in the coming weeks, but it is still to be determined where Desert Flower will be seen next as Appleby eyes the perfect end to the high-class filly's career after she was beaten into third place as a hot favourite for the Oaks last month. 'Epsom took it's toll on her and she's back in work now, but I'm not going to pigeon-hole her into any race just yet,' said Appleby. 'There's only really two races left for her and she's not going to be a Breeders' Cup filly. She could be a Prix Jean Romanet filly and realistically that is going to come too soon, but we'll have to see. 'She's a filly that owes us nothing and was always going to be retired at the end of this season. She's far from retirement yet though and I just want to pick the right race to finish it off. 'It could be either a mile or 10 furlongs. A mile event might just become an easier option as the mile-and-a-quarter and mile-and-a-half fillies look the stronger divisions at the moment, so I would probably look for something at a mile if I could.' There may be some indecision regarding Desert Flower's next assignment, but the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano was immediately highlighted by Appleby as Ruling Court's next destination following his creditable third place finish in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Appleby added: 'He's targeted to head to Deauville and I'm a big believer in getting their heads in front to gain confidence. 'It's pointless stepping up and stepping up and keep getting chinned as after a certain amount of time they lose interest. There's a method behind it and hopefully it pays off.'
