The big Group 1 for the three-year-old colts took centre stage on Day 1 at Royal Ascot 2025, as a small but select field lined up in the St. James’s Palace Stakes. With the winners of the English, Irish, and French 2000 Guineas in the line-up, we looked set for a high-class, competitive renewal.
Despite the presence of three Classic winners, punters were only interested in one horse. Following his comprehensive win at the Curragh, the John & Thady Gosden-trained Field Of Gold sent off as the 8/11 favourite. Unlucky to finish second at Newmarket and sensational in Ireland, could he follow in the hoofprints of his sire Kingman, who claimed the 2014 edition of this race?
Talented Rivals Blown Away
Both Aidan O’Brien and Juddmonte deployed pacemakers, aiming to ensure a strong pace despite the small field. As expected, Officer and Windlord grabbed the lead early and set the fractions into the straight.
Those early exertions took their toll, with the frontrunners running on empty long before the final furlong. For a fleeting moment, the potential for a compelling battle emerged, with Field Of Gold, Ruling Court, and Henri Matisse all beginning their challenges from further back. Barely an instant later, the race was all over as a contest.
Switched into the clear, Field Of Gold hit the front on the bridle. Once Colin Keane let his mount run loose, the strapping grey opened up a six-length gap with a jaw-dropping turn of foot.
Henri Matisse closed the gap to 3½l at the line to grab second, with Newmarket champ Ruling Court completing a 1-2-3 for the Guineas winners. Solid efforts from the second and third, but this was all about one horse.
St James’s Palace Stakes 2025 Full Result
| Position | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Field Of Gold | Colin Keane | John & Thady Gosden | 8/11 |
| 2nd | Henri Matisse | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien | 4/1 |
| 3rd | Ruling Court | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | 4/1 |
| 4th | Rashabar | Sean Levey | Brian Meehan | 25/1 |
| 5th | Officer | Wayne Lordan | Aidan O’Brien | 20/1 |
| 6th | Windlord | Oisin Murphy | Andrew Balding | 80/1 |
| 7th | First Wave | Dylan Browne McMonagle | Aidan O’Brien | 100/1 |
“Best I’ve Ever Ridden”
For rider Colin Keane, this was a sensational start to his new role as retained rider for the powerful Juddmonte operation. No doubt, further top-level success lies ahead for the down-to-earth jockey. However, wherever he rides and wins, he will do well to play his part in a more spectacular performance than this.
As the man up top, Keane enjoyed an enviable position from which to assess the quality of this display. When reflecting on his 13th career Group 1, the 30-year-old rider stated:
“I am fortunate enough to be riding him and, at this moment, he is the best horse I’ve ever sat on.”
High praise indeed from a man who counts Phoenix Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Siskin, Irish Oaks heroine Even So, and sensational Irish Derby winner Westover amongst his previous mounts.
Next Stop Goodwood
Having revelled in such a wonderful performance, racing fans are eager to learn what lies ahead for Field of Gold. Before the race, a step up in trip for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown looked like a plausible target. However, that now looks an unlikely route – at least for this season.
“That was absolutely wonderful to behold” was the verdict of John Gosden following his fourth St. James’s Palace Stakes triumph. The trainer then outlined his plans for the season ahead. Whilst conceding that the Coral-Eclipse had been in his thoughts, the Newmarket handler suggested a trip to Goodwood is now the more likely option. He commented:
“Maybe we’ll freshen him up and go to the Sussex. I think if he hadn’t run in Ireland, I would have probably been keen to go to the Eclipse, but I don’t want to push him. When they win like that, they make it look easy, but they are taking a lot out of themselves, and I wouldn’t want to be going to an Eclipse in a couple of weeks.”
Having swatted aside the best of his three-year-old contemporaries, Field Of Gold looks set to tackle his elders at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, which kicks off on Tuesday, 29th July. The quality duo of Queen Anne Stakes 1-2 Docklands and Rosallion lurk amongst the Sussex Stakes entries. Nevertheless, Field Of Gold is the general 4/6 favourite for the Day 2 highlight at the Glorious Meeting. If turning up in anything like this form, it would take a brave punter to bet against him!