Field Of Gold has established a significant lead in the Cartier Horse of the Year standings, with the brilliant St James’s Palace Stakes winner forming part of an outstanding Royal Ascot for trainers John and Thady Gosden.
Field Of Gold (Colin Keane) in action! (Pic – Curragh Racecourse)
Established in 1991 to reward excellence in horseracing, the 35th Cartier Racing Awards will be presented at the Dorchester Hotel in London on the evening of Wednesday, November 19.
Five exceptional days of racing at Royal Ascot included a hugely anticipated clash between the winners of the English, Irish and French 2,000 Guineas in the opening day’s St James’s Palace Stakes.
Field Of Gold had already produced an exhilarating performance in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Juddmonte colt again highlighted his brilliance as he stormed clear of Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains victor Henri Matisse and Betfred 2000 Guineas scorer Ruling Court.
A son of 2014 Cartier Horse of the Year Kingman, Field Of Gold has now amassed 96 points in Pattern races this year, placing him clear of the Prix Ganay and Prix d’Ispahan winner Sosie (64) as he looks to emulate his sire by taking the premier equine accolade.
Field Of Gold holds a commanding lead in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt division as well, ahead of Betfred Derby victor Lambourn (60), Henri Matisse (56) and Ruling Court (56).
A banner week for the Gosden team also saw Ombudsman (52) post a first top-level success in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes as he readily accounted for a deep field that included Anmaat (40), Map Of Stars (40) and Los Angeles (48).
The Godolphin colt now lies second behind Sosie in the Cartier Older Horse category, with Docklands (50), trained by Harry Eustace for O T I Racing, moving up to third following his nose defeat of Rosallion (32) in the opening contest of Royal Ascot, the Queen Anne Stakes.
Godolphin and the Gosdens also teamed up to take the staying showpiece of the meeting, the Gold Cup, as Trawlerman (56) avenged his second 12 months earlier with a dominant front-running display.
Unbeaten in two appearances this year, the seven-year-old looks a strong contender in the Cartier Stayer division, having easily beaten his closest pursuers Candelari (34), Illinois (32) and Dubai Future (30) at the Royal meeting.
Zarigana (56) has closed the gap on Desert Flower (60) at the top of the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly standings, although the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches winner could only finish second to Cercene (46) in a captivating edition of the Coronation Stakes.
Zarigana’s trainer Francis-Henri Graffard enjoyed more Classic glory in France earlier in the month with Gezora (50), who swept by her rivals to take the Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly.
Fellow three-year-old filly Time For Sandals (36) is the new leader in the Cartier Sprinter category. The David and Lorrie Bevan-owned daughter of Sands Of Mali continued a dream week for Harry Eustace with her surprise win over Arizona Blaze (24) in the Commonwealth Cup.
American Affair (32) capped his rise through the ranks with victory in the King Charles III Stakes, while Lazzat (32) also enhanced his Cartier Sprinter claims with a game success in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
Cartier Racing Awards – points earned in Pattern races up to and including Sunday, June 22, 2025.
Cartier Horse of the Year
96 – Field Of Gold
64 – Sosie
60 – Desert Flower
60 – Lambourn
56 – Henri Matisse
56 – Ruling Court
56 – Trawlerman
56 – Zarigana
52 – Ombudsman
50 – Docklands
50 – Gezora
Cartier Older Horse
64 – Sosie
52 – Ombudsman
50 – Docklands
48 – Choisya
48 – Los Angeles
Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt
96 – Field Of Gold
60 – Lambourn
56 – Henri Matisse
56 – Ruling Court
40 – Camille Pissarro
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly
60 – Desert Flower
56 – Zarigana
50 – Gezora
48 – Minnie Hauk
46 – Cercene
Cartier Sprinter
36 – Time For Sandals
32 – American Affair
32 – Lazzat
24 – Arizona Blaze
24 – Believing
24 – Mgheera
Cartier Stayer
56 – Trawlerman
34 – Candelari
32 – Illinois
30 – Dubai Future
18 – Epic Poet
