Field Of Gold takes acclaim after storming St James's Palace Stakes

Odds-on favourite delivers for Gosdens and is even-money for Glorious Goodwood

- Greg Wood

Royal Ascot's uncanny ability to deliver performances to suit the occasion was to the fore once again as Field Of Gold, the odds-on favourite, overwhelmed his rivals in the St James's Palace Stakes with a sustained burst of speed a quarter of a mile out that put the result beyond doubt well before the furlong pole.

If there is a better performance over a mile by a three-year-old later on in the season, it feels long odds-on that Field Of Gold will be the horse to produce it.

John and Thady Gosden's grey colt was one of three Classic winners in the field, though his winning performance was further evidence that, had Ruling Court not been allowed first run in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, the fast-finishing Field Of Gold would surely have taken that too. Ruling Court was only third here, nearly four lengths behind Henri Matisse, the French 2,000 Guineas winner, who was in turn three and a half adrift of Field Of Gold at the line.

Kieran Shoemark shouldered the blame for Field Of Gold's defeat at Newmarket and Colin Keane, newly appointed as the Juddmonte operation's retained rider in Europe, enjoyed one of the smoothest rides of his career in his saddle.