Field Of Gold has already been ruled out of the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury this Saturday. However, owners Juddmonte will be hoping they possess a more than capable deputy in the shape of Jonquil.
Andrew Balding’s charge made a successful return to action. He claimed the Listed Paradise Stakes at the start of May. That ensured he has won his first race on home turf in each season he has raced so far. He has also won at Newbury before and trainer Andrew Balding is confident heading up to Group 1 level.
“He’s obviously started well winning at Ascot really quite impressively,” Balding said via Racing TV. “He’s a horse we’ve always thought a lot of and one I’d hope he will prove very competitive in a Group 1 at some stage this year.
“We’ve been delighted with him since Ascot and he seems in food spirits out on exercise. It’s quite a quick turnaround, just about two weeks, but the feeling is tat he’s recovered well from Ascot and seems at his best at home.
“The Lockinge has been in our minds for a while, but obviously we were waiting to see how he performed at Ascot before committing to the race.”
Field Of Gold in race against time for Ascot
The absence of Field Of Gold may well be felt at Newbury on Saturday. The grey has lost on his last three racecourse starts, but the spectre of his enormous ability remains. The grey was an outstanding winner of both the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes last term.
Connections’ aim for the four-year-old is to have him back in fine fettle for Royal Ascot. The Queen Anne Stakes is the aim on the straight course. Field Of Gold won on the round track in the St James’s Palace last season.
If he turns up at all, that may be a triumph though. Barry Mahon, racing manager at Juddmonte, confirmed a race against time was on. He was speaking on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, via Sporting Life.
“I can’t definitively rule it out yet but I’m guessing from where he is at with his work schedule, it’s going to be tight.
“He’s still getting treatment and I think they’re going to do some tests on him later in this week to see if he can start doing some more strenuous exercise. We might know more then but probably at this stage we’re looking more towards second-half of the season.”