A new challenge awaits Field Of Gold as Juddmonte’s superstar takes on his elders in a sensational Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (3.05) at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday.
Red-hot favourite Field Of Gold has been the dominant force in the Classic division and faces six rivals, headed by three-time Group 1 winner Rosallion, in a vintage clash of the generations in the £1 million contest.
French 2,000 Guineas winner Henri Matisse, who was runner-up to Field Of Gold at Royal Ascot, is Aidan O’Brien’s main hope, while Queen Anne hero Docklands and leading US miler Carl Spackler, now in the care of Australian trainer Ciaron Maher, are the other top-flight winners in a sparkling line-up.
With Colin Keane suspended, joint-trainers John and Thady Gosden moved to snap up William Buick for the ride on Field Of Gold, who bids to emulate his sire Kingman by completing the Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace and Sussex Stakes treble.
Docklands and Rosallion: meet again in the Sussex StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Rosallion won the first two of those races last year and was denied the opportunity to justify his odds-on price in the Sussex when ruled out at the 11th hour.
The Richard Hannon-trained colt returned from nearly a year off the track with a third-placed finish in the Lockinge in May and was then second to Docklands in the Queen Anne.
Tom Marquand takes the ride on Docklands, who was ridden to victory at Royal Ascot by Australian jockey Mark Zahra.
Field Of Gold will be tackling the unique demands of Goodwood for the first time and Juddmonte appear to be making sure there is enough pace in the race, having supplemented smart handicapper Qirat at a cost of £70,000. The owners’ Lockinge winner Lead Artist was not declared.
O’Brien trimmed down his five entries to two, with outsider Serengeti joining Henri Matisse in the seven-strong field.
Following the final declarations, Paddy Power made Field Of Gold their 2-5 favourite with Rosallion at 9-2 and Henri Matisse at 11-2.
Carl Spackler Shane Foley
Docklands Tom Marquand
Qirat Richard Kingscote
Rosallion Sean Levey
Field Of Gold William Buick
Henri Matisse Ryan Moore
Serengeti Wayne Lordan
Sussex Stakes (Wednesday, 3.05)
Paddy Power: 2-5 Field Of Gold, 9-2 Rosallion, 11-2 Henri Matisse, 20 Docklands, 40 Carl Spackler, 100 Qirat, 200 Serengeti
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