Innishannon trainer Paddy Twomey lands another major victory with Carmers

Innishannon trainer Paddy Twomey continued his remarkable rise as Carmers won the Queen’s Vase in great style at Royal Ascot this week. 

Jockey Billy Lee is riding out of his skin right now and Carmers maintained his unbeaten record with a brilliant display for Twomey who was having his first runner at Royal Ascot. This horse looks very progressive and the son of Wootton Bassett was completing a hattrick after previous victories at Ballinrobe and Navan.

Twomey said: "I knew he’d stay and I knew turning in that Billy looked comfortable. I was happy to see a horse come up alongside him and help him at the front, he looked comfortable when the bell rang and I knew he had a chance. I think staying is his game and I think he’s a pretty good horse." 

Twomey has emerged as a real rising star of the training ranks and has already 21 winners this season. Carmers looks a real top-class stayer and the St Ledger looks an obvious target later in the season. 

"He’s done everything we’ve asked, he’s obviously going to have an entry in the Leger at Doncaster. He’s done what was asked of him today, he’s run three times, he’s won three times and hopefully he continues to win. 

We’ve nice horses, we’ve good owners and it’s fantastic to be able to bring them here. 

"It’s nice to have good horses to win on the big days for a small stable."

Field Of Gold lit up Royal Ascot this week with a dominant display in the St James’s Palace Stakes under Irish jockey Colin Keane. John and Thady Gosden’s colt had been a fast-finishing second behind Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas before easily winning the Irish equivalent at the Curragh.

Colin Keane has since taken over as the retained rider for Juddmonte farms, which is one of the biggest jobs in world racing. Keane who would have been under massive pressure certainly did not show it and breezed through on the 8-11 favourite before bursting clear to beat Henri Matisse by three and a half lengths, with Ruling Court back in third.

FAMOUS SIRE

Field Of Gold has now charted the same route as his famous sire Kingman, who also suffered defeat at Newmarket before gaining Irish redemption and adding Royal Ascot glory when trained by senior Gosden.

John Gosden said: “Like father, like son. The nerves may have got to the trainer beforehand but thankfully not to the horse or the jockey. It was great, a great performance and Oisin (Murphy) did a nice job on Windlord setting an even pace and he came to the head of the straight and he had a lot of horse." 

Gosden who is a master trainer admitted the Irish 2,000 Guineas had not originally been part of Field Of Gold’s intended campaign, which could influence where the colt heads next.

“It was never the plan to go to Ireland and he’s had a trial and two Guineas and now this which is a lot of racing and we’re not even halfway through the season yet.

"Maybe we’ll freshen him up now and go to the Sussex, but we will see. If we hadn’t gone to Ireland, I would have been keen to go to the Eclipse."

For Juddmonte’s new retained rider Colin Keane it capped a fine first week in the hot seat for the Abdullah family, with the six-time Irish champion in no doubt he is in a privileged position, handed the reins to an exceptional talent.

"He’s a special horse and I’m lucky enough to join this team and to have a horse like him early on is amazing. I’ve had nothing compared to this and it’s very special. He just proved what he did at the Curragh wasn’t a mistake and it’s similar to revving a motorbike, when you ask him it’s instant. 

"Without a doubt he’s the best horse I’ve ridden. The next best would be Siskin who was in the same colours, but this lad is a level above, he’s very special. 

"I’m in a very privileged position to be in these colours and getting a horse like him is unbelievable. I wasn’t nervous, but there was plenty of anticipation and it was a very good renewal of the race. It was three Guineas winners taking each other on, but he’s won like a very good horse.

"Ideally I would have liked to have been carried further into the race as he will only do so much once he got there. I didn’t want to be a sitting duck there for them to catch me, but once he quickened up I thought they will do well to catch me."