The Sussex Stakes (G1) is set to host a mighty clash July 30 between the highest-rated 3-year-old in training in the UK, Field of Gold, and last year’s Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) victor, Rosallion.
Field of Gold, owned by Juddmonte and trained by John and Thady Gosden, is looking to emulate his sire Kingman by winning the Irish Guineas, the St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, and the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday. William Buick has been booked to ride.
Field of Gold is currently the hot favorite to add another group 1 to his CV, and regarding his chances, John Gosden said: “He has been a grand horse to train; he's done nothing but thrive this year. We've been pleased with his progress all the way through and he’s in great order now. It’s very much the obvious race to go to for him. He does have that great turn of foot, and let’s hope we get a clear run, and he can produce it on the day.
“The Sussex is a different test of a horse. If you've ever walked the track, it’s quite a surprise: it runs down into a dip, swings up and around. You don't want too big a field and get a high draw because you are literally down the hill looking at the horses getting the shortest run round up the hill, so the draw is a big factor there if you get a large field.”
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s Rosallion, trained by Richard Hannon, boasted the exact same 3-year-old record as Field of Gold last year when an ill-timed respiratory infection ruled him out of the Sussex Stakes. After a year on the sidelines, he returned to the track in the Lockinge Stakes (G1) at Newbury, where he finished third. He then headed to Royal Ascot’s Queen Anne Stakes (G1), a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race, where he finished a desperate second by a nose.
at Ascot
The eventual winner, Docklands, owned by O T I Racing, has also been declared for Wednesday’s thrilling Sussex renewal. The 5-year-old provided his Newmarket-based trainer, Harry Eustace, with a first group 1 winner in the Queen Anne, and a guaranteed berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T). He finished second to Charyn in the race last year. The son of Massaat ran in four international group 1 contests over the winter, including the Hong Kong Mile (G1) in Sha Tin, but failed to place.
Eustace was measured about his chances and said: “He has been super and seems to have come out of Royal Ascot very well. He's done a couple of bits of work since.
“I don’t think we are under any illusions. We take on the 3-year-olds, particularly Field of Gold, which will be the toughest opponent he’s faced so far, but I feel he’s in as good a place as we have ever had him.
“I think the track will be fine. He handled Epsom no problem at all, so the cambers of the track I don’t think will be an issue. The quality that might be another matter.”
The 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) winner Henri Matisse is currently third in the betting for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Merriebelle Irish Farm, the 3-year-old by Wootton Bassett won the French Two Thousand Guineas (G1) before he was beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Field of Gold in the St James’s Palace Stakes last time out.
Yulong Investments' Carl Spackler(IRE) now represents Australia, having previously been based in the United States, where he finished sixth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile when trained by Chad Brown before going on to win the Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland in April. The striking chestnut by Lope De Vega is a multiple grade 1 winner in the U.S. and will be partnered by jockey Shane Foley on Wednesday.
Juddmonte’s Qirat and outsider Serengeti, owned by Coolmore connections and Peter Brant, complete the field of seven.
IRISH RAIDER LADY IMAN SEEKS SECOND GROUP 3 IN MOLECOMB
Lady Iman currently sits at the top of the betting at 9-4 to take on the English in a field of eight in the Molecomb Stakes, which joined the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series this year. The Starman filly, owned by Mrs. A O’Callaghan and trained by Ger Lyons, was unbeaten in her first three starts, which included listed and group 3 contests–most notably the Fillies Sprint Stakes (G3) at Naas in May. However, her winning run was stopped by Aidan O’Brien’s Beautify in the Arlie Stud Stakes (G2) at The Curragh over 6 furlongs.
She is dropping back to five furlongs on Wednesday with Ryan Moore on board.
Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah’s Ameeq stunned all by finishing fourth, only 3 1/2 lengths behind Charles Darwin, in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot despite his starting odds of 100-1. After a poor debut run at Beverley, the Kevin Ryan-trained son of Mehmas broke his maiden at Nottingham second time out.
Kevin Ryan also saddles Dickensian, owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, who finished second by 1 1/2 lengths behind Havanna Hurricane in the listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in his most recent start.
Argentine Tango is an interesting runner for Bearstone Stud Limited. The daughter of Mattmu outperformed her 9-1 odds in her last start at Newmarket in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (G3) when finishing third, having won a listed race at the same track a few weeks prior. It has been an upward trajectory for Tim Easterby’s filly all season; however, the Yorkshire-based trainer was not particularly delighted about her draw.
Easterby said: “The ground is good, which suits her, but she’s drawn in stall 1, which is not ideal, but what can you do? She should run well. She’s been training very well into the race, and we were very happy with her Newmarket performance behind Venetian Sun. She’s got seven others to beat today, though, but she’s going into it as well as she could be.”
The £1 million Sussex Stakes serves as an automatic qualifier for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T), while the Molecomb Stakes (G3T) offers a free entry into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T). Both races will take place at Del Mar Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Sussex Stakes to start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile and for the winner of the Molecomb Stakes to start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, which will be run at five furlongs. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
