Field Of Gold absence paves way for 'career-defining' Juddmonte International rematch between Delacroix and Ombudsman

Ombudsman and Delacroix are on course for their heavyweight rematch in this month's Juddmonte International but leading miler Field Of Gold has run out of time to join them in a star-studded line-up at York.

This season's Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Field Of Gold was the 8-1 third favourite behind Delacroix and his stablemate Ombudsman, representing the superpowers of Ballydoyle and Godolphin in the £1.25 million Group 1 on August 20, but the race will come too soon for the son of Kingman, who was found to be lame following his below-par fourth in last week's Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

"Field Of Gold's condition has improved," joint-trainer John Gosden told the Racing Post. "There is still some residual filling in a joint and further precautionary x-rays will be done on Wednesday. Overall, we're pleased with the improvement in his condition."

John Gosden and William Buick debrief after Field Of Gold's Goodwood defeatCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Before his Goodwood defeat, Juddmonte's latest star ran out a spectacular winner at the Curragh in May and followed up in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. He was sent off the 1-3 favourite to emulate his sire in the Sussex but could make no impression on his pacemaker Qirat in the straight and finished three and three-quarter lengths behind the 150-1 winner.

Juddmonte’s Barry Mahon said: "We're sitting and waiting. We'll x-ray again and that will rule out any potential for anything more sinister. When the vet and John feel he's ready to resume light exercise he will do. Hopefully that will be next week."

Field Of Gold holds an entry in the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 13 and on Tuesday featured among the entries for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on October 18. He is the 5-1 favourite for the Group 1 with William Hill ahead of Rosallion (8-1) and Delacroix (10-1). 

Ombudsman: runaway Ascot winner finished second in the Coral-EclipseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

In his absence, the Gosdens are still set to be represented at York by Ombudsman, with the Prince of Wales's Stakes winner set for another meeting with Delacroix, who denied him by a neck in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. The four-year-old has been freshened up since that narrow defeat and joint-trainer Thady Gosden believes he has a good opportunity to reverse the form in a "career-defining" contest.

"He won the Prince of Wales’s on his first attempt in a Group 1 and showed he’s up to that level," said Gosden. "He ran a very good race in the Eclipse and he was beaten by a top-class three-year-old coming through. He’s come out of that race well and has had a little freshen up, so hopefully he’s heading to the Juddmonte International. He’s such a genuine horse, has got the required speed and hopefully can run a good race there."

On the significance of a Group 1 the yard has won three times, most recently with Mostahdaf in 2023, Gosden added: "It's a career-defining race for a lot of horses. If you win the Juddmonte International it certainly means a lot given the depth and quality of the field. York is a very fair track, so often the best horse wins and it's something that everybody aspires to."

Delacroix pipped Ombudsman in the EclipseCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Delacroix recorded his first Group 1 win at Sandown and quickly put a disappointing display in the Betfred Derby behind him for O'Brien, who still has eight entries in the Juddmonte International.

"The plan for Delacroix at the moment is the Juddmonte International," said the trainer. "The two races pencilled in for him are that and the Irish Champion Stakes. If he runs there we might not have many others in it. He looks to be the main one at the moment."

Last year's Champion Stakes winner Anmaat finished two lengths behind Ombudsman at the royal meeting and could take his chance at York, although trainer Owen Burrows will be on weather watch in the lead-up to the race.

"He’s in good form, but we’re in the lap of the gods at the moment as there doesn’t look to be a lot of rain coming," he said. "We’ll prepare him for it, but we’ll see what happens. If we can’t go to York then we’ll have a look at Leopardstown, but his main target is Ascot on British Champions Day, where we’re 95 per cent certain to get soft ground. We entered him for it this week and I wouldn’t want to risk running him on quick ground before that."

Juddmonte International (York, August 20)
Coral: 6-4 Delacroix, 2 Ombudsman, 7 Danon Decile, 8 Daryz, See The Fire, 10 Whirl, 14 Anmaat, 20 Minnie Hauk, 33 Henri Matisse, Lambourn, White Birch, 40 bar.  

Read more:

Field Of Gold found to be lame after Sussex Stakes defeat with Gosdens to investigate nature of the injury 

Bookies have overreacted to the defeat of a Juddmonte International contender - and it's not Field Of Gold 

Siblings to Alpinista and Field Of Gold up for grabs as Tattersalls Book 1 headlined by ‘the best yearlings available in the world’ 

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