John Gosden: 'Not winning the 2,000 Guineas is not the glaring omission that everyone else thinks it is'

There have been no sleepless nights for John Gosden since Field Of Gold swept out of the Dip and to the very top of the 2,000 Guineas betting when winning the Craven Stakes last month and none either over the fact he has been trying to win the Classic for the past 35 years.

Anshan, his first runner in the race, finished third in 1990 and Field Of Gold's sire Kingman was denied late on by 40-1 shot Night Of Thunder when favourite in 2014.

Now coupled up on the licence with his son Thady, Gosden has heard all the noise in recent weeks about the gap in his CV that the 7-4 favourite could plug on the Rowley Mile on Saturday.

Field Of Gold: heads up Warren Hill on Thursday morningCredit: John Grossick Racing

Speaking at a Jockey Club media event, Gosden said: “Not winning the 2,000 Guineas is not the glaring omission that everyone else thinks it is. It’s nice to have a horse who is favourite but it doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to win it. Obviously having horses like him running in these races does make it a lot easier to get out of bed in the morning.”

Field Of Gold will bid to become the first horse to complete the Craven-2,000 Guineas double since Haafhd in 2004.

Gosden said: "It’s the first time we’ve had a horse like this heading for the Guineas since his father. It’s the same owners in Juddmonte so it would close the circle if you like. Kingman won the Greenham in good style but he pricked his ears in front when he thought he’d done enough at Newmarket and was run down by Night Of Thunder.”

Field Of Gold: 7-4 favourite for the 2,000 GuineasCredit: John Grossick Racing

Gosden is aware that Field Of Gold has shown his hand by running in a trial – unlike some others near the head of the betting.

"He was 85 per cent fit for the Craven and it’s sharpened him up but there are horses who are coming into the race who have not run this year," said Gosden. "They have had away days at the Curragh or somewhere else. They are the ones I will always have a lot of respect for as you never know how much they’ve improved. They can be the surprise package and we’ll know more when they come into the paddock.

“Ruling Court is another horse in there who won Dubai's 2,000 Guineas and he is fully tuned."

Reflecting on his colt's three-and-a-half-length success over Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Craven, Gosden said: “They overraced in front in the Craven. They were fresh horses that day and he was in a perfect position out the back to go past them. Having said that, the race set up nicely.

"I expect they’ll go a decent mile pace on Saturday. We’ll ride him as we find it."

Betfred 2,000 Guineas, 3.35 Newmarket, Saturday
Ladbrokes: 7-4 Field Of Gold, 4 Ruling Court, 5 Expanded, 8 Scorthy Champ, Shadow Of Light, 14 Green Impact, 20 Wimbledon Hawkeye, 33 bar

Read more . . .

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