Field Of Gold new 2,000 Guineas favourite after devastating display at Newmarket

Field Of Gold is the new 11-4 favourite for the Betfred 2,000 Guineas after a scintillating return to action in the Craven Stakes.

The striking grey, trained by John and Thady Gosden, was available at 20-1 but is now in pole position for the first British Classic of the season back at Newmarket next month.

It was a result that looked unlikely at halfway when Kieran Shoemark was stuck in behind the rest of the field led by Benevento, who was steered over to the stands' rail by David Egan.

However, the Craven field parted entering the Dip and Shoemark was able to fire the 100-30 favourite into a gap and past eventual second Wimbledon Hawkeye and Godolphin first string Aomori City.

The win came just 24 hours after the success of the same combination's Zanzoun in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes and gives Juddmonte an embarrassment of riches in the 2,000 Guineas, with more live candidates in Cosmic Year and Jonquil.

Shoemark said: "I was pinned four back on the rail for much of the race but when I got the gap he took off. I had that much horse under me I wouldn't have worried if there were eight horses or 18 in front of me.

"To have two leading contenders for the Classics at this stage is very exciting. He was a bit fresh and I wanted to teach him how to race properly today. A race like the 2,000 Guineas would suit him."

Kieran Shoemark with Field Of Gold after his Craven rompCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Field Of Gold's sire Kingman was memorably denied in the 2,000 Guineas in 2014 as the 6-4 favourite, his only defeat in eight starts for John Gosden, and son Thady is excited to see what heights their latest top prospect can reach.

Thady Gosden said: "He's an exciting colt who got into a bit of traffic and had the gears to get out of it. Kieran gave him a beautiful ride. You could see him travelling well in behind and when he got the gap he quickened up well when he needed to.

"He's a classy horse with a nice change of gear and he's entitled to come on for it as it was his first run of the season."

Field Of Gold was a winner of the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown last year and could be back there for a tilt at the Eclipse, although Thady Gosden feels he is not a Derby candidate, adding: "It's great for Juddmonte and they will decide who goes where, but it's an open year and I think 11-4 favourite is a fair price for him.

"I've not been as excited about a colt winning a trial in a long time."

Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon would not be drawn into saying whether Field Of Gold is the operation's number one for the 2,000 Guineas, but did give some indication as to the factors that may dictate how they split their talented group of colts.

Field Of Gold: thunderous turn of foot in the CravenCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

He said: "That was impressive and Kieran gave him a wonderful ride. I wouldn't say he's our number one 2,000 Guineas hope just yet, but the fact that he's been here and handled the undulations, you'd have to give him an extra tick.

"Of the others, Cosmic Year wouldn't want it quick so the ground will determine where he goes. Jonquil wants it quick and he's very much in the mix. At the moment we could definitely run two as we also have Detain, although he's more likely to go to France."

Betfred 2,000 Guineas (Newmarket, May 3)
Paddy Power 11-4 Field Of Gold, 9-2 Twain, 7 Scorthy Champ, Shadow Of Light, 10 Cosmic Year, Ruling Court, 12 Expanded, Jonquil, 16 bar.

Expert jury: have we just seen the 2,000 Guineas winner?

'I'm not rushing to take the 11-4'

By Harry Wilson, tipster

Field Of Gold was no doubt impressive, with the way he travelled through the Dip and quickened when asked to win particularly good traits for a 2,000 Guineas contender.

He's clearly a very talented horse, with his turn of foot a good weapon to have, but Craven winners are invariably always short in the market, given the trial is run over the same course and distance, and I'd be slightly apprehensive about getting carried away with the result.

There is a slight possibility that he benefited from the way the race panned out, with the second paying for racing too close to a contested pace and wandering in the final furlong and the third racing wide and making his challenge too soon, while other market rival Opera Ballo disappointed.

With the likes of National Stakes winner Scorthy Champ, Dewhurst one-two Shadow Of Light and Expanded, and the unexposed Twain all achieving more as a juvenile, I wouldn't be jumping at the chance to take 11-4.

John Gosden: 'I am not going anywhere any time soon'

Has John Gosden finally unearthed a 2,000 Guineas winner?Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

'He was so much better than his rivals'

By James Hill, tipster

I think we may well have. It’s been 21 years since Haafhd last completed the Craven-Guineas double. He won the Group 3 by a few lengths further, but I can’t recall him making as big an impression as Field Of Gold.

Maybe the leaders got racing too early here, enhancing his superiority, but I don’t think it was the pace of the race that was the reason why he was so much better than his rivals. He just looked a bigger, stronger, classier individual and when he came to challenge it was like he’d just jumped in; he did it so easily.

Field Of Gold has clearly taken a major step forward from two to three. A winner of the Solario as a juvenile, John Gosden also won that Sandown contest with the likes of Raven’s Pass and Kingman and, on this evidence, the winner is of similar ability.

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