Juddmonte unleash Field of Gold, cosmic year, Windlord and Swelter for Curragh classics in all-out redemption mission.

Juddmonte are mounting a full-scale assault on this weekend’s Irish Guineas at the Curragh, determined to make amends for a pair of agonising Classic near-misses earlier this season. With Colin Keane now taking over on Field Of Gold—narrow runner-up in the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas—the powerhouse operation is doubling down in pursuit of their first Classic of 2025.

Field Of Gold, narrowly denied by Ruling Court at Newmarket, returns to action with renewed purpose in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas. The son of Kingman, whose thunderous finish lit up the Craven Stakes in April, will be partnered by three-time Irish champion jockey Colin Keane. Juddmonte general manager Barry Mahon confirmed that the John and Thady Gosden-trained colt has taken the quick turnaround in his stride.

“He’s pretty laid-back and has a great constitution,” Mahon said. “He didn’t do much on Saturday, just a bit to tick him over, but he went well and we’re very happy with where he’s at.”

Joining him in Juddmonte’s three-pronged 2,000 Guineas raid are Cosmic Year, the unbeaten son of Kingman trained by Harry Charlton, and Windlord, a Sandown Classic Trial runner-up whose Derby ambitions have been re-routed to the mile.

Oisin Murphy, fresh from steering Lead Artist to Lockinge Stakes success, is reunited with Cosmic Year. The colt, long regarded as Group 1 material, steps up in class after a promising juvenile campaign and has pleased connections in recent work.

“This has always been his target,” Mahon explained. “He did a bit on Saturday and went well. He’s unbeaten, but we’ll find out now if he’s a genuine Group 1 horse. The bit of rain forecast could suit him too.”

Windlord, trained by Andrew Balding, reverts to a mile after failing to convince connections over longer trips. Having previously chased home proven Group 1 winners Hotazhell and Tennessee Stud at the Curragh, Mahon believes there’s still plenty to learn about the front-running colt.

“He went forward at Sandown and we’d expect the same again,” said Mahon. “He’s in there on merit.”

The strength of Juddmonte’s current three-year-old crop has made campaign planning a challenge. Greenham Stakes winner Jonquil, for instance, was narrowly beaten in France and is now entered for the July Cup over six furlongs. This weekend’s results will shape Royal Ascot targets, including the St James’s Palace Stakes and Prix Jean Prat.

Over in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Juddmonte’s sole runner Swelter carries Classic hopes 24 hours after the boys. The unbeaten filly, trained by Dermot Weld, took her record to two-from-two with an emphatic Group 3 win at Leopardstown in March and looks well suited by the Curragh’s mile.

“She was always going for this, and Red Letter will now step up in trip instead,” said Mahon. “Swelter had a great winter after a little setback at two. Her Guineas trial win was very impressive—she beat some proper yardsticks and showed she’s got the talent.”

Jockey Chris Hayes retains the ride, and Weld reports the filly is thriving ahead of her toughest test to date. While seven furlongs may have been on the sharp side earlier in her career, connections believe she’s now ready to peak.

With four major bullets to fire—Field Of Gold, Cosmic Year, Windlord, and Swelter—Juddmonte’s ambition is clear. After seeing victory snatched away by the finest of margins this spring, the operation arrives at the Curragh with unfinished business and a quartet of horses capable of righting recent wrongs