Field of Gold Leads Cartier Horse of the Year Standings

Field of Gold  has established a significant lead in the Cartier Horse of the Year standings, with the brilliant St James's Palace Stakes (G1) winner forming part of an outstanding Royal Ascot for trainers John and Thady Gosden.

Established in 1991 to reward excellence in horse racing, the 35th Cartier Racing Awards will be presented at the Dorchester Hotel in London on the evening of Nov. 19.

Five exceptional days of racing at Royal Ascot included a hugely anticipated clash between the winners of the English, Irish, and French Two Thousand Guineas in the opening day's St James's Palace Stakes.

Field of Gold had already produced an exhilarating performance in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and the Juddmonte colt again highlighted his brilliance as he stormed clear of Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1) victor Henri Matisse  and Two Thousand Guineas (G1) 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 (G1) and Prix d'Ispahan (G1) 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 3-year-old colt division as well, ahead of Epsom Derby (G1) 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 (G1) 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 OTI Racing, moving up to third following his nose defeat of Rosallion  (32) in the opening contest of Royal Ascot, the Queen Anne Stakes (G1).

Godolphin and the Gosdens also teamed up to take the staying showpiece of the meeting, the Gold Cup (G1), as Trawlerman  (56) avenged his second 12 months earlier with a dominant front-running display.

Unbeaten in two appearances this year, the 7-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 3-year-old filly standings, although the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, G1) winner could only finish second to Cercene  (46) in a captivating edition of the Coronation Stakes (G1).

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 (G1) at Chantilly Racecourse.

Fellow 3-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 (G1).

American Affair  (32) capped his rise through the ranks with victory in the King Charles III Stakes (G1), while Lazzat  (32) also enhanced his Cartier sprinter claims with a game success in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1).