John and Thady Gosden to use 'best available' rider following Kieran Shoemark's defeat on Field Of Gold

John Gosden has said he will use the best rider available in the wake of hot favourite Field Of Gold's controversial defeat in the 2,000 Guineas under Kieran Shoemark. 

Shoemark has been under constant pressure since replacing Frankie Dettori as the stable's number-one jockey in 2024, and while Gosden said he still planned to use him, he confirmed the decision was directly related to Saturday's narrow Guineas defeat on the 15-8 shot.

Speaking to the Racing Post, Gosden said: "Nothing much is going to change. We are looking to use the best available from now on. We have eight jockeys who are retained to ride for owners connected with the yard and I haven't had a retained jockey since William Buick.

"There is no fallout, but it is the ramifications of what happened over the weekend. We'll now use the best available. Kieran is riding for us in the Cheshire Oaks today and he'll be riding for us in the Musidora at York next week."

John Gosden: "We are looking to use the best available from now on"Credit: Edward Whitaker

Following Dettori's decision to move to America, Shoemark rode the bulk of the Gosdens' runners last season, though it did not all go according to plan for the rider. 

A number of big-race defeats on board Emily Upjohn and also on Free Wind at Glorious Goodwood last summer resulted in criticism in places, while he was  replaced on six-time Group 1 winner Inspiral for the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

After a number of Listed, Group 3 and Group 2 victories across 2024, Shoemark registered his first top-level success for the yard in October, on Friendly Soul in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp.

Friendly Soul: Group 1 winner for Kieran ShoemarkCredit: Edward Whitaker

Shoemark has also experienced mixed results so far this year. After guiding the Juddmonte-owned Field Of Gold to an impressive Group 3 victory in the Craven Stakes, he blamed himself for being "too confident" in an ITV Racing interview following defeat in the Newmarket Classic.

Juddmonte's Barry Mahon said: "We don't have a jockey and we don't interfere with trainers' jockeys. John and Thady have made their decision and we'll go whatever way they want to work."

Mahon added that no firm plan has been made regarding Field Of Gold's next assignment, although the Racing Post understands he is being aimed at the Irish 2,000 Guineas, for which he was cut to 5-4 (from 3-1) on Tuesday, with Colin Keane likely to ride.

He added: "There hasn't been any discussion yet, it's only a couple of days since the Guineas and we said we'd get this weekend out of the way in France and see what happens there. That will fill in a few more gaps in the picture and we'll be better able to decide from there with the owners where these horses will go." 

Shoemark declined to comment when contacted by the Racing Post.

The jockey had one ride for the Gosdens at Chester on Wednesday, finishing last of seven on Queen Of Thieves in the Listed Cheshire Oaks.

Shoemark has been booked for just one ride for the Clarehaven yard for the rest of the week – Good Old Days at Ascot on Friday – while he is set to partner the Charlie Fellowes-trained Shes Perfect in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp on Sunday, where he will face the Gosden-trained Zanzoun.

Read these next:

Who are the jockeys that could benefit from a change in policy by the Gosdens? 

'It reminds me of when David Moyes took over from Sir Alex Ferguson' - Martin Dwyer's jockey's view on Kieran Shoemark 

'Retained jockeys are out of fashion - they're for an owner, not a trainer' - a timeline of John Gosden quotes on Kieran Shoemark 

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