At first glance, 2025 appears to have begun rather well for owners Juddmonte. Nine Group/Graded wins, headlined by the Lead Artist’s Group 1 success in the Lockinge Stakes, is certainly nothing to be sniffed at. However, there have been a couple of notable disappointments amidst those successes. But for a half-length and a head, the Khalid Abdullah-founded operation could be heading towards June with two Classic wins under their belts. Instead, they have none.
Field Of Gold was the first to come up short, with his half-length defeat at the hands of Ruling Court in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Seemingly getting going all too late in that contest, the fallout saw Kieran Shoemark lose his position as first choice rider at the John and Thady Gosden operation. One week later, Jonquil came even closer when just failing to reel in Aidan O’Brien’s Henri Matisse in the French 2,000 Guineas at Longchamp.
The English and French mile Classics may have passed Juddmonte by, but all is not yet lost. This weekend, the action switches to the Curragh for the Irish 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas. Having hit the crossbar in Britain and France, could those famous green and pink silks find their way to the Winner’s Enclosure in County Kildare?
Field Heads 2,000 Trio
Successful with Kingman (2014) and Siskin (2020), Juddmonte send three in pursuit of a third Irish 2,000 Guineas success on Saturday afternoon, headed by the horse who came oh so close at Newmarket.
As rumours suggested, the demotion of Kieran Shoemark sees four-time Irish Champion Jockey, Colin Keane, take the ride aboard Field Of Gold at the Curragh. Sensational in the Craven Stakes on his seasonal return, he emerged with plenty of credit in defeat in the English 2,000 Guineas, with many judges insisting that the best horse didn’t win the race that day. How much truth there is in that opinion may be revealed over a mile of the Curragh at 3:40 pm on Saturday. The market certainly expects the son of Kingman to go one better, with Field Of Gold odds-on across the board.
If there is a horse to lower the colours of Field Of Gold, it may be his owner-mate Cosmic Year. Also sired by Kingman, this Harry Charlton-trained runner is unbeaten in three career outings, and has long had this race as his target. Much too good for the opposition in the Listed King Charles II Stakes last time, he looks well worth a crack at Group 1 company. Cosmic Year sits second in the betting at around 11/4.
Andrew Balding’s Windlord rounds out the Juddmonte triple threat. By Dubawi, and out of a daughter of the brilliant Goldikova, this good-looking bay boasts a Group 1 pedigree. With only a Novice win to his name, he has yet to live up to that potential, but boasts solid form at this track, having finished second to Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell in the Beresford Stakes last season. At a general 22/1, he may prove popular with each-way punters.
Unbeaten Swelter Targets Fillies Event
Juddmonte has yet to saddle the winner, or even a top-three finisher, in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. However, that may change in 2025. Hailing from the yard of six-time Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Dermot Weld, Swelter is another member of a strong Kingman cast of 2025.
With only two previous starts to her name, this daughter of Nell Gwyn Stakes winner Hot Snap is the most lightly raced of the leading contenders. Swelter may lack in experience, but on what we have seen at the track, she isn’t short in the all-important area of ability. A cosy winner on her only start at two, she thrust her hat into the ring for this when powering clear to claim the Group 3 Ballyinch Stud “Priory Belle” Stakes at Leopardstown on her seasonal return. At a general 9/2, she lies behind only Aidan O’Brien’s Lady Victoria in the market.
Can the Juddmonte squad atone for the previous Classic disappointments of 2025? As ever, the Curragh showstoppers provide a fascinating, not-to-be-missed spectacle.