English/Ire
Colin Keane booked for Field Of Gold’s Irish 2000 Guineas challenge
Colin Keane will be hoping he can make an instant impact when he partners Field Of Gold for the first time in Saturday’s Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh.
Irish champion jockey for the last five seasons, Colin Keane has already tasted Irish 2000 Guineas success for owners Juddmonte having steered Siskin to a famous victory back in 2020.
With trainers John and Thady Gosden revealing they will operate by using a 'best possible rider available' policy going forwards this season, Keane, who is attached to the Ger Lyons stable in Ireland, has been handed the ride on Field Of Gold following his English Guineas defeat to Ruling Court when partnered by Kieran Shoemark.
"I'm delighted to be asked to ride him, he looks a very good ride going into the race, I'm very much looking forward to it," Keane told the PA.
"The Juddmonte colours are those that growing up watching racing, you know who they are. I've been very fortunate to win two Classics wearing them and a couple more Group 1's and I'm just delighted to be asked to ride the colt at the weekend."
Whilst Field Of Gold looks set to be sent off a strong market leader for the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh, he won't be the only leading contender to carry the famous green and pink silks of Frankel in the mile Group 1 on Saturday, with both Cosmic Year and Windlord expected to take their chance, forming a three-pronged attacked for Juddmonte.
The Harry Charlton-trained Cosmic Year took his record to three-from-three with a smooth performance in the Listed TrustATrader King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket last time. He was partnered by Ryan Moore on that occasion but will be reunited at the Curragh with his regular rider Oisin Murphy, who enjoyed a first success in the Juddmonte colours onboard John and Thady Gosden's Lead Artist in last weekend's Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
Riding arrangements for Andrew Balding's Sandown Classic Trial runner-up, Windlord, are still to be confirmed.
