As Cheltenham continues to retreat into the shadows of the racing world, the flat is beginning to take centre stage as the first classic of the season is just over a month away. The Ballydoyle press morning has naturally manoeuvred some markets, as Albert Einstein comfortably tops the market. However, the Gosden team are hopeful that Kingman colt Publish can avenge last year’s 2000 Guineas defeat.
The homebred-son of Kingman, from the family of 2019 Coventry winner Arizona, progressed with each run last season. An eye-catcher on debut, he made no mistake next time out when fending off a subsequent seven-length winner. Publish improved again next time out, but was no match for the subsequent Royal Lodge winner Bow Echo.
Connections put him away thereafter despite the temptation of running again, and are happy with the progress he’s made. Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon told the Racing Post: “we’ve always liked him a lot and he’s wintered well. I think John and Thady are just stepping up his work now. Hopefully Colin will be having a sit on him in the next week.”
Colin Keane was employed as Juddmonte’s number one jockey last season, following on from Field Of Gold’s defeat in the 2000 Guineas. Keane, who rode a winner at Cheltenham, took the Irish 2000 Guineas on Field Of Gold next time out.
Mahon continued: “We were tempted to run him again after Haydock. But the trainers rightly said he’s a big horse who had a lot of frame to fill. The ground went quick. We thought that a big horse on fast ground and on the undulations wasn’t the thing to do. Hopefully they will be rewarded for that.”
Connections out to avenge Field of Gold defeat
Despite an illustrious career, the 2000 Guineas is a race that’s thus far eluded the Gosden’s. Field Of Gold was sent off the favourite last year after success in the Craven Stakes, but was agonisingly beaten into second.
While nothing is set in stone, Publish may follow that path in a bid to go one better. Mahon said: “Last year Field Of Gold went to the Craven but he had stronger form as a two-year-old than Publish. There is no real plan yet. But if the trainers are happy with him we could look at a trial and see where that brings us. He’s still relatively unexposed and his form looks quite good.
“Publish has a beautiful pedigree. His mother is by No Nay Never, who had speed and stayed a mile. A mile should be his trip. He has a beautiful physique and we’re hopeful he can step up from last year, but he will need to.”