Field Of Gold Set for Solario Stakes Bid at Sandown as Gosdens Eye Seventh Win

Exciting Newmarket maiden winner Field Of Gold is among the 15 entries lined up for Saturday’s Group Three Sky Bet Solario Stakes at Sandown, a race that has historically been a fertile hunting ground for the Gosden stable. Trained by the father-son duo of John and Thady Gosden, the Juddmonte-owned colt will aim to continue his upward trajectory and add his name to an illustrious roll of past winners.

Field Of Gold showed promise on debut when finishing third behind Stonehenge Stakes victor New Century at Doncaster. However, it was on his second outing that he truly announced himself, bolting clear of his rivals on the July course under Kieran Shoemark. The son of Kingman, who was a €530,000 purchase as a foal, now has the chance to emulate his sire by capturing the Solario Stakes, a feat Kingman achieved back in 2013.

The Clarehaven team boasts a fine record in this seven-furlong event, with John Gosden having saddled previous winners like Raven’s Pass and Too Darn Hot, in addition to Kingman. Their latest triumph came in 2021 with Reach For The Moon, and a win on Saturday would make it a record-breaking seventh Solario success for the yard, taking them ahead of the legendary Sir Henry Cecil.

“Field Of Gold is in great shape and he will head for the Solario,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for Juddmonte. “John and Thady both feel he has progressed well since his maiden win, and while we considered the Acomb Stakes, John thought this race would be a better stepping stone towards some of the bigger autumn targets.”

In what promises to be a high-quality renewal, Aidan O’Brien could be represented by Surpass, a dual winner at Tipperary and third in the Tyros Stakes. Meanwhile, Joseph O’Brien has entered Midnight Strike, who could face competition from Charlie Hills’ Haydock winner Victory Sound, another runner owned by Teme Valley.

Richard Hannon is triple-handed with Angel Hunter, fresh from his Ebor Festival victory at York, alongside two-time scorer Linwood and another progressive type from his Everleigh base. Hugo Palmer, who won the race in 2014 with Aktabantay, returns with Seagulls Eleven, a Superlative Stakes runner-up owned by a group of Brighton & Hove Albion players led by James Milner.

Other notable entries include Ralph Beckett’s Matauri Bay, who was impressive on debut at Leicester, George Boughey’s Newmarket scorer Asuka, and Andrew Balding’s Salisbury winner Royal Playwright, all of whom could take a leap into stakes company.

Saturday’s card also features the Group Three Sky Bet Atalanta Stakes, where David Menuisier’s Prix de Diane third Tamfana heads a competitive field. Course-and-distance winner Spiritual, trained by the Gosdens, and Al Shaqab’s Royal Ascot heroine Doha are also in the mix for what should be a thrilling day of racing at Sandown.

With top-class prospects lining up across the card, Field Of Gold’s performance will be eagerly watched as he attempts to cement his status as a leading contender for the autumn’s feature races.