Eleven runners went to post for the 217th edition of the opening Classic of the season. Impressive Craven Stakes winner Field Of Gold headed the market for the John and Thady Gosden operation, with the strapping grey looking to go one better than his sire Kingman, who finished second by half a length in the 2014 edition.
Having saddled the winner in 2022 and 2024, Godolphin number one Charlie Appleby boasted a potent two-pronged attack in the shape of Shadow Of Light and Ruling Court. The former ended 2024 as Champion Juvenile, but William Buick opted to ride the latter, who warmed up for this with a six-length success in the Jumeirah 2,000 Guineas at Meydan.
It wouldn’t be a Classic without a leading challenger from the Ballydoyle operation of Aidan O’Brien. Despite the absence of The Lion In Winter and Twain, O’Brien looked to have a fair chance of an 11th win in the race with Expanded, who finished a narrow second in the 2024 Dewhurst Stakes.
Others to note included Joseph O’Brien’s National Stakes winner, Scorthy Champ, and the Jessica Harrington-trained Green Impact, who brought strong juvenile form to the table.
Result
- 1st – Ruling Court 9/2, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 2nd – Field Of Gold 15/8F, Jockey: Kieran Shoemark, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- 3rd – Shadow Of Light 6/1, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £297,727.50
- 2nd – £112,875
- 3rd – £56,490
- 4th – £28,140
- 5th – £14,122.50
- 6th – £7,087.50
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £5.85
- Tote Places – 1st – £1.75, 2nd – £1.20, 3rd – £2.35
- Exacta – £17.50
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £12.95
- Trifecta – £59.60
- Tricast – £50.72
Recap
There was no great rush for the lead when the stalls opened, leaving the keen-going Tornado Alert to make the running, flanked by Scorthy Champ and Seagulls Eleven. Expanded and Wimbledon Hawkeye raced prominently, with Green Impact, Ruling Court, and Shadow Of Light making up the next wave of three. Field Of Gold held up in the rear alongside outsiders Yah Mo Be There and Benevento.
There was very little change in the order approaching halfway. Tornado Alert continued to lead, having overcome his early keenness to find a nice rhythm. The leader looked set to be swamped at the two-furlong poll but initially refused to lie down. However, he ultimately had no answers to his fellow Godolphin runners, Ruling Court and Shadow Of Light, who quickened passed him on either side. Green Impact tried to go with them, but his effort was short-lived. Field Of Gold, meanwhile, looked to have missed a beat when the pace increased but was now beginning to stay on powerfully.
Moving into the final furlong, Ruling Court and Shadow Of Light were going at it hammer and tongs, with the former finally breaking the heart of the latter in the final 100 yards. Field Of Gold was now into overdrive under Kieran Shoemark and closed all the way to the line, only to go down by half a length, just as his sire had done 11 years earlier.
It was a third 2,000 Guineas in the space of four years for Charlie Appleby, a second win in the race for William Buick, and a sixth for owners Godolphin.
Runners
- 1. Benevento – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Raphael E Freire, Jockey: David Egan
- 2. Expanded – SP: 5/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore
- 3. Field Of Gold – SP: 15/8F, Trainer: Kieran Shoemark, Jockey: John & Thady Gosden
- 4. Green Impact – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Mrs John Harrington, Jockey: Shane Foley
- 5. Ruling Court – SP: 9/2, Trainer: Charlie Appleby, Jockey: William Buick
- 6. Scorthy Champ – SP: 8/1, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien, Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle
- 7. Seagulls Eleven – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Hugo Palmer, Jockey: Tom Marquand
- 8. Shadow Of Light – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Charlie Appleby, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
- 9. Tornado Alert – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor, Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
- 10. Wimbledon Hawkeye – SP: 16/1, Trainer: James Owen, Jockey: Harry Davies
- 11. Yah Mo Be There – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Richard Spencer, Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Non-Runners
All Ran