Field Of Gold delivered a performance to remember on the opening day of Royal Ascot, storming to an emphatic victory in the St James’s Palace Stakes. With a burst of speed that kicked in a quarter-mile from home, the favourite swiftly settled the contest and crossed the line more than three lengths clear, a display that reinforced his credentials as the standout three-year-old miler of the season.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the grey colt dominated a quality field that included three Classic winners. His performance was arguably a redemptive one, following a close defeat in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket where he was left with too much to do late on. That day’s winner, Ruling Court, had no answer to Field Of Gold this time, finishing third behind France’s Henri Matisse, who himself was three and a half lengths adrift of the winner.
This marked a notable moment for Colin Keane, Juddmonte’s newly appointed retained rider in Europe, who enjoyed a smooth and untroubled ride. Reflecting on the win, Keane praised the colt’s class and toughness, calling him the best horse he has ever ridden.
Looking ahead, the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood is the most likely next target for Field Of Gold, with his odds for that contest slashed from 4-1 to even money. While the Eclipse Stakes was briefly considered, connections are wary of over-racing the colt, who has already competed in three significant contests this season.
Elsewhere on the card, there were landmark Group One victories for trainers outside the usual elite stables. Harry Eustace saddled Docklands to a thrilling nose victory over Rosallion in the Queen Anne Stakes. It was Docklands’ first win since the Britannia Handicap at the same meeting in 2023 and a maiden Group One success for Eustace, who was visibly emotional after the race.
There was also a breakthrough win for Scottish trainer Jim Goldie, whose American Affair produced a gutsy performance to take the King Charles III Stakes. Having won a York handicap off a mark of 98 just a month ago, American Affair showed his class in Group One company, fulfilling Goldie’s faith in his ability.
One disappointment on the day came for supporters of the Royal colours, as Reaching High faded to finish ninth in the Ascot Stakes Handicap. Attention now turns to Rainbow’s Edge, who lines up as a likely favourite in Wednesday’s Kensington Palace Stakes.
Wednesday’s racing includes a potentially star-making appearance from See The Fire in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. Supplemented for £70,000, she arrives after a dazzling 12-length win at York and looks well-positioned to score a first Group One triumph.
With more competitive action to follow and high-quality fields assembled, Royal Ascot continues to deliver the drama, class, and surprises that define the world’s most prestigious flat racing festival.
