Over the course of his illustrious career, John Gosden has claimed four of the five British Classics. However, the Newmarket showpiece of the 2000 Guineas has so far proved elusive. Coming closest when saddling Kingman to finish a half-length second in 2014, could this be the year Gosden, now training in partnership with his son Thady, finally completes the Classic set? If we are to believe the betting market, the 74-year-old handler has every chance of doing just that.
Craven Display Takes Gold to the Head of the Market
Where Kingman so narrowly failed, his son Field Of Gold will attempt to succeed in 2025. Having won two of four starts in his juvenile campaign, this Juddmonte-owned colt was in the 2000 Guineas conversation heading into the current campaign, but no more than that.
A maiden success on the July Course and Group 3 victory at Sandown showed plenty of promise. However, a defeat on debut at Doncaster and a fourth-place finish in his only Group 1 outing bookended those wins and dampened enthusiasm.
Following those two-year-old displays, Field Of Gold was only fourth best on ratings ahead of his return in the Craven Stakes. Nevertheless, a surge of money on the day saw the horse propelled to favouritism, suggesting he must be displaying all the right signs in his homework. Those who followed the money were rewarded with a scintillating display from the mount of Kieran Shoemark. Held onto in last at the 3f pole, he closed the gap two furlongs out before quickening away to score by 3½l.
The bookmakers were suitably impressed by that performance over the 2000 Guineas course and distance. A general 25/1 chance for 2000 Guineas glory before the Craven, he was no bigger than 3/1 following the race. Those odds are now even shorter.
Twist in the Plot for Twain
With 10 previous wins, Aidan O’Brien is the most successful trainer in 2000 Guineas history. As such, his entries inevitably attract more than their fair share of attention. Ahead of the 2025 edition, the O’Brien runner generating the most hype went by the name of Twain.
Two from two in his juvenile campaign, the son of Wootton Bassett marked himself a horse to follow when claiming a Grade 1 contest only eight days after making his debut. On the back of those efforts and comments from the yard suggesting he was their main 2000 Guineas hope, Twain headed into the current season vying for favouritism at around the 9/2 mark. Yet to reappear in 2025, he remained a general 6/1 second favourite following Field Of Gold’s performance in the Craven Stakes.
Breaking: After not scoping 100% following his work this morning, Twain is “unlikely” to run in the 2,000 Guineas, as per @coolmorestud.
Expanded is expected to be Aidan O’Brien’s only representative in Saturday’s Group 1 at Newmarket. pic.twitter.com/rWt52V5dK4
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 29, 2025
Unfortunately, the Field Of Gold vs Twain clash is now off. The O’Brien runner may yet win a Guineas in 2025, but it won’t be the English version. Announcing the change in plan for the promising colt, Aidan O’Brien stated:
“Unfortunately, Twain just wasn’t 100 per cent after his work this morning, so he’s going to miss the 2000 Guineas on Saturday. He will instead be aimed at the Irish 2000 Guineas.”
Following the news that his main market rival will miss the race, Field Of Gold hardened further in the market and was no bigger than 7/4 on the Wednesday before the race.
Expanded to Fill the Gap
Of course, the withdrawal of Twain doesn’t end O’Brien’s chance of claiming an 11th 2000 Guineas in 2025. Following the Twain announcement, the O’Brien-trained Expanded halved in price to replace his stablemate as second-favourite for the 1m Classic.
But for a neck, Expanded would boast a nearly identical profile to that of Twain. Also sired by Wootton Bassett, he scored on debut at the Curragh before tackling the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes seven days later. He didn’t quite emulate Twain by scoring at the top level on only his second start, but he couldn’t have come much closer in going down by just a neck to Shadow Of Light.
On those efforts, Expanded looked like the natural replacement for Twain. O’Brien confirmed as much when stating:
“In Twain’s absence, Expanded will now go to Newmarket on Saturday.
“The plan was for him to run in the Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh on Monday, but he will come back 48 hours earlier instead.”
As ever, whoever claims Guineas gold must get past a stiff challenge from that man, Aidan O’Brien.
