Field Of Gold remains on a light training schedule after the infection that ruled him out of this Saturday’s Lockinge, with Juddmonte set to decide in the coming days whether Royal Ascot is still realistic.
Royal Ascot Race Against Time For Field Of Gold
The John & Thady Gosden-trained Field Of Gold’s path back to the track is still uncertain, with Juddmonte set to reassess the dual Group 1 winner in the coming days as connections weigh-up whether there is still enough time to make Royal Ascot.
This was reported on Thoroughbred Daily News on Tuesday that Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, said the Queen Anne Stakes picture is “tight” after the bacterial infection that ruled the good-looking grey Kingman colt out of Saturday’s Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
A race Juddmonte landed 12 months with another Gosden runner Lead Artist.
“I can’t definitively rule it out yet but I’m guessing from where he is at with his work schedule, it’s going to be tight.”
“He’s still getting treatment and I think they’re going to do some tests on him later in this week to see if he can start doing some more strenuous exercise. We might know more then but probably at this stage we’re looking more towards second-half of the season.”
Mahon told the Nick Luck Podcast this week.
Which means the sole Lockinge Stakes runner in the famous pink and green silks could be Jonquil for trainer Andrew Balding.
Field Of Gold Still Only In Light Work
The latest update indicates last season’s Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes Field Of Gold is still only in light work while the team waits to learn whether he can begin a more demanding exercise programme.
With the Sporting Life also reporting that the four-year-old is continuing treatment and that tests later this week should help determine whether an Ascot comeback remains viable or whether his return will need to be pushed deeper into the summer.
Field Of Gold’s setback came after his return second at Sandown last month in the bet365 Mile (watch below).
The race was won by Godolphin’s Opera Ballo.
Patient Approach as Juddmonte Weighs Next Move
Connections are not forcing the issue.
Mahon made clear in Tuesday’s update that the second half of the season remains the bigger priority if Field Of Gold needs more time, an approach that fits a horse who was one of the headline milers of last year.
Field Of Gold won both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes in 2025, establishing himself among the leading horses in the European mile division.
His early 2026 campaign has now been interrupted after the post-race tests reported at the end of April revealed a lower respiratory tract bacterial infection.
That setback removed him from the Lockinge and turned Royal Ascot into a race against the calendar rather than a straightforward next target.
Tuesday’s update does not close the door on Ascot, but it does make clear that his next few days of recovery will decide whether he can return in time for the royal meeting’s opening-day mile championship.
As a result, Field Of Gold is out to 10/1 for the Queen Anne Stake at Royal Ascot, behind the likes of Damysus, Notable Speech, Zeus Olympios and Opera Ballo.
WATCH: Field Of Gold Winning The St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot In 2025
Publish Ruled Out Until Next Season
The same Juddmonte update carried another significant stable note, with Mahon also saying that Publish is not expected to race again this year after undergoing surgery.
With Publish recently scratched from the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket with this setback and is now unlikely to be seen during the 2026 flat season.
