Champions Day the target for Field Of Gold return

Field Of Gold has stepped up his recovery from the injury he suffered at Goodwood last month, with connections targeting the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot as the stage for his return.

Narrowly beaten in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, John and Thady Gosden’s Juddmonte-owned grey looked set to dominate the mile division after scintillating victories in both the Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He was long odds-on to complete the same Group One hat-trick achieved by his brilliant sire Kingman in Goodwood’s Sussex Stakes in late July, but finished a disappointing fourth behind his pacemaker Qirat, who caused the shock of the season with a 150-1 success.

It soon transpired Field Of Gold had suffered a significant joint injury and he required some time on the sidelines, but having now returned to full work an outing on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot appears to be firmly on the agenda.

“He’s on the road to recovery, John is very happy with him and he’s cantering every day,” said Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon.

“He’s not done any fast work and he’s probably heading towards Champions Day, I would imagine. Hopefully the ground isn’t too soft and that’s where we’ll see him next.

“The Prix du Moulin and the Irish Champion Stakes are obviously coming too soon because he hasn’t done any fast work since the Sussex, but he’s doing steady canters, he’s sound and the joint has tightened up well and the team are very happy with his well-being.

“The fact that we’re not going to have him ready to run in September, there’s no point in rushing, so we’ll take our time and wait for Ascot – the QEII looks the most obvious race for him.”

The Juddmonte team have yet to finalise plans for another high-class three-year-old colt in Jonquil, who bounced back to winning ways in the Group Two Celebration Mile at Goodwood last weekend, but his preference for a sound surface could mean he will be getting his passport stamped.

Mahon added: “He’s won a Group Two, options are very limited and we may have to go on our travels because he wants fast ground.

“We just haven’t mapped out a plan for him with the owners yet, but we’ll do that in the next few days.”