Last week saw the first of the key trial meetings of 2025 as Newmarket played host to the three-day Craven Meeting. The opening day saw the three-year-old colts tackle the Greenham Stakes, and the fillies line up in the feature event of the Nell Gwyn Stakes, whilst the headline act of the meeting arrived in the shape of the Craven Stakes on Day 2.
Held over the same 1m course and distance as the 2000 Guineas, the Craven Stakes is the key domestic trial for the opening colt’s Classic of the season. However, not since Haafhd in 2004 has a horse completed the Craven Stakes/2000 Guineas double. It remains to be seen whether the 2025 winner becomes the next to complete the feat, but he could scarcely have been more impressive.
Field Floors Rivals in Style
Having landed the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes over the Craven course and distance, the James Owen-trained Wimbledon Hawkeye brought the strongest juvenile form to the table. He set the standard in the nine-runner field, but abundant potential lurked amongst the opposition.
With three wins in the past six editions, Charlie Appleby is always a man to fear in this event. This year, the Godolphin number one sent the unbeaten Opera Ballo and Vintage Stakes winner Aomori City into battle. With Group winners from the yards of Andrew Balding and Hugo Palmer also in attendance, the 2025 edition of the Craven appeared well up to scratch.
All of which made the scintillating performance of Field Of Gold that much more impressive. Hailing from the yard of John & Thady Gosden, the mount of Kieran Shoemark didn’t enjoy the smoothest of starts. With the entire field tracking over to the nearside rail, the strapping grey soon found himself behind a wall of horses.
That remained the case heading into the final quarter of the race. However, whilst he sat last, it soon became clear that Shoemark had a lot of horse underneath him, but would the gap arrive in time? It did. With the field opening up heading into the dip, Field Of Gold displayed an electric turn of foot to leave his rivals floundering. Hitting the front at the furlong pole, he extended that margin to 3½l by the line.
Odds Compilers Impressed
Of the trials to have taken place thus far, Field Of Gold produced the most visually striking display. If able to replicate this effort on the 3rd of May, he would boast solid claims of handing his trainer a first 2000 Guineas success. The layers were certainly taken with this display; a best price of 20/1 for 2000 Guineas glory before the race, he is now the new favourite for the race at a general price of 9/4.
Trainer Excited
Despite claiming the Derby, Oaks, St. Leger, and 1000 Guineas, John Gosden has yet to land the colts Classic at Newmarket. The Newmarket handler came closest to putting that right in 2014 when Kingman went down by just ½l to Night Of Thunder. That was the only defeat of Kingman’s career and must have been a little galling for the Gosden team, considering he comfortably dispatched Night Of Thunder both before and after the 2000 Guineas.
Where Kingman failed, perhaps his son Field Of Gold may succeed. Joint trainer Thady Gosden seemed to have enjoyed the display, with the younger member of the father/son training duo stating:
“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 went on to add:
“I’ve not been as excited about a colt winning a trial in a long time.”
Juddmonte Jubilant
For owners Juddmonte, Field Of Gold’s display represented the high point of an excellent week. Day 1 at the Craven Meeting saw the famous silks carried to victory by Zanzoun in the Nell Gwyn Stakes, whilst the operation also struck with Jonquil in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday 12th April.
Zanzoun appears likely to head to Longchamp for the French 1000 Guineas. However, Jonquil remains a 2000 Guineas contender, as does fellow Juddmonte runner Cosmic Year, who recently made an impressive return to the track at Kempton. Last successful with Chaldean in 2023, the legendary owner/breeder operation looks to boast a strong 2000 Guineas hand in 2025.