Will Field Of Gold bounce back or have we seen him at his best?

On the eve of the Solario Stakes, the race in which Field Of Gold fully announced himself 12 months ago, we ponder if the year's star three-year-old can bounce back to the top after his shock defeat in the Sussex Stakes

It's fair to say it's been a rollercoaster year for Field Of Gold. A dominant victory in the Craven Stakes propelled him to favouritism for the 2,000 Guineas, only to fall to a narrow defeat to Ruling Court with a flashing late run not enough to get his head in front — or to save Kieran Shoemark from losing his role as number one rider for John and Thady Gosden.

But he quickly put that behind him with two sensational displays to cement himself as the most exciting colt in training. A rout in the Irish 2,000 Guineas was followed by an even more impressive success at Royal Ascot in the St James's Palace Stakes. A three-and-a-half-length win over Henri Matisse earned him a Racing Post Rating of 131, a joint-high for the season alongside his stablemate Ombudsman.

The Sussex Stakes was viewed as a foregone conclusion as the son of Kingman looked to keep following in his father's footsteps. However, nobody could have predicted what came next as the Glorious Goodwood crowd was left in a state of shock when fellow Juddmonte runner Qirat, who had only been entered in the race to help make the pace for Field Of Gold, stole a march on his rivals and roared home for a stunning 150-1 triumph. A much below-par Field Of Gold never threatened and could finish only fourth at odds of 1-3.

• 150-1 pacemaker Qirat pulls off historic Sussex Stakes upset to leave Field Of Gold and Goodwood stunned

"He didn’t seem comfortable and William [Buick] said as soon as he asked him, the engine wasn’t there, simple as that," John Gosden said after the race, and the following day it emerged Field Of Gold lame on his left hind.

That resulted in him being pulled from the Juddmonte International but his recovery from the injury has gone well and he returned to light work earlier this month with the goal of returning to the track in the autumn.

Where might he run next?

The big questions now are which race we see Field Of Gold in next, and can he put that setback behind him to return to his summer peak?

He is entered in the Irish Champion Stakes over a mile and a quarter on September 13 but connections have previously expressed their intent to keep him to mile trips for the time being.

That would surely put the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on British Champions Day on October 18 at the top of the pecking order. The Breeders' Cup Mile on November 1 provides a fast-ground alternative which could come into calculations before Juddmonte decide at the end of the season if he stays in training as a four-year-old.

Field Of Gold's best performance came in the St James's Palace Stakes and he could return to Ascot in OctoberCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Despite his star turns in the first half of the season, Field Of Gold's Goodwood defeat has left some questioning whether he may have already peaked and pro punter Johnny Dineen expressed doubt on whether he would ever win again.

He said: "He surely underperformed at Goodwood, but then that’s the nature of the racehorse, you can never be certain they will give their running on any given day. He came back lame but who knows what impact that had on his finishing position.

"He'd been busy and the Sussex was his fifth run of the season so he may have been brought to the well once too often. It will be interesting to see what happens but I have an inkling we may have seen the best of him and it’s very possible he will never be back in the winner's enclosure again."

What John Gosden has said

The Field Of Gold team is debriefed by William Buick after the Sussex StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

“Field Of Gold’s condition has improved and he’s back doing one canter and seems happy in himself. 

"The residual filling that he had in a joint has cleared up and hopefully we have a clear run with him into the autumn."
Speaking to the Racing Post on August 18

Should you back Field Of Gold wherever he runs next?

Maddy Playle and Tom Park assess how punters should feel when Field Of Gold makes his return

'He could be vulnerable on Champions Day'

By Maddy Playle

I wouldn't be in a hurry to back Field Of Gold when he next runs, particularly if that comes in the QEII on British Champions Day.

That meeting is notorious for throwing up funny results on winter ground and one of Field Of Gold's most disappointing performances came on soft ground in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last October.

There is always uncertainty surrounding the fitness of horses coming back from injury and Field Of Gold could head to Ascot without a previous run, leaving him vulnerable to those in tip-top shape.

Some of that is factored into his price and you could argue 4-1 is actually good value for a horse of his talent, but his form hasn't worked out as well as it looked like it would and I'd rather back a horse like My Cloud at 33-1 and hope he gets slashed after winning the Prix Quincey at Deauville on Saturday.

Field Of Gold toils in midfield at a muddy Longchamp in last year's Prix Jean-Luc LagardereCredit: Edward Whitaker

'All about the value'

By Tom Park

Like all bets it will come down to value.

Often when a top horse like Field Of Gold puts in a below-par performance there is a complete overreaction and you sometimes get odds against about a horse who on their best form should be 2-5.

I'm always happy to forgive a top horse a poor run and the Sussex Stakes turned into a baffling affair in which Field Of Gold had genuine excuses, so I would be happy to back him if the layers are taking him on.

On the flip side, if he was a short price as if Goodwood never happened, I would rather just not have a bet. I don't see the point in taking on a horse like Field Of Gold, who on all known form is comfortably the best miler out there, in the hope that he runs another stinker.

Read more:

Who will follow in Field Of Gold's footsteps? Assessing the key contenders for the Solario Stakes 

John Gosden gives positive update on Field Of Gold with stable star on the road to a full recovery 

Behind-the-scenes insight for National Racehorse Week and will we see the next Field Of Gold at Sandown? 

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