Field of Gold and Rosallion Face Off in a Star-Studded Sussex Stakes

Juddmonte Farm’s colt stands out as a top contender this Wednesday in the featured race at Glorious Goodwood, facing a tough rival

Field of Gold aims for his third consecutive G1 victory / BREEDERS' CUP

CHICHESTER, Inglaterra (Special for Turf Diario).- The legendary Goodwood Racecourse will don its finest this Wednesday for the running of the Qatar Sussex Stakes(G1, 1600m, turf), one of the premier events on the British racing calendar. This year’s edition will showcase an elite cast led by the established stars Field of Gold and Rosallion. The race forms part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, with the winner earning a fully paid berth to the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar, California, on November 1.

Undefeated so far in 2025, the talented Field of Gold, owned by Juddmonte and trained by the John and Thady Gosden team, arrives off wins in the Irish 2000 Guineas (G1) at The Curragh and the St. James’s Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. The son of Kingman will attempt to replicate his sire’s 2014 feat of capturing the same treble. He will be ridden by William Buick, stepping in for the suspended Colin Keane.

“He’s been a fantastic horse to train. His progression has been steady and he’s at an excellent level. This was the logical race to target,” said John Gosden. “Goodwood presents a different challenge, with downhill, turns, and uphill stretches that can become tricky with a big field and a wide draw.”

Facing him is none other than Rosallion, the colt owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and trained by Richard Hannon. Last year, he had followed a similar path to Field of Gold but was sidelined from the Sussex by a respiratory infection. This year, after a respectable return with a third in the Lockinge Stakes (G1), the son of Blue Point was narrowly beaten into second in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, another “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup.

It was Docklands (Massaat), representing OTI Racing and trained by Harry Eustace, who denied him victory at the line. Docklands returns this Wednesday seeking to reaffirm his excellent form. Having already secured his place in the Breeders’ Cup Mile with that win, a strong performance here would cement his status among the year’s top milers.

“We’re very happy with his condition. Facing the colts, especially Field of Gold, will be a serious challenge, but Docklands is at his peak,” Eustace noted.

From Ireland, Aidan O’Brien will saddle the always-dangerous Henri Matisse (Wootton Bassett), who shone in 2024 by winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). This season he captured the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (G1) but was decisively beaten by Field of Gold at Royal Ascot. Still, he remains a contender to watch.

Rounding out the field are international entries: Carl Spackler (Lope de Vega), now under Australian colors following success in the U.S. including the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1); Qirat (Showcasing), another Juddmonte hopeful; and Serengeti (Wootton Bassett), the outsider from the Coolmore-Peter Brant partnership.

With five G1 winners on the card, several boasting international experience, the 2025 Sussex Stakes promises to be one of the most compelling races of the year. The first to cross the line will not only claim Goodwood glory but also secure a coveted spot at Del Mar.