The Guineas Festival at Newmarket never fails to deliver drama, and the 2025 edition was no exception.
Across three action-packed days on the Rowley Mile, racing fans were treated to Classic-winning performances, breakout stars, and potential clues for the summer ahead—including Epsom, Royal Ascot and beyond.
From dominant displays in the 1000 and 2000 Guineas to eye-catching efforts in the supporting races, there was no shortage of talking points and horse racing tips for future bets to emerge from the season’s first major Flat meeting. Here are the key storylines that caught the eye at HQ.
Godolphin’s dominance
The Royal Blue silks of Sheik Mohammed’s Godolphin are no strangers to the winner’s enclosure at Newmarket, and they cleaned up during the prestigious Guineas Festival at HQ.
Chief trainer Charlie Appleby and his trusty jockey William Buick enjoyed a six-timer over the course of the three-day meeting.
Alpine Trial was their sole winner on Friday, winning the Listed Newmarket Stakes—and has since been supplemented for the Derby.
Ruling Court provided the first of the Guineas double for the Moulton Paddocks team 24 hours later, with El Cordobes following up straight after.
Desert Flower was the standout of the third-day hat-trick, winning the 1000 Guineas for the first time for Buick and Appleby.
The Field Of Gold fallout
While Ruling Court stole the spotlight with that landmark win in the aforementioned 2000 Guineas, the subsequent fallout surrounding pre-race favourite Field Of Gold stole the headlines.
The Juddmonte-owned horse was red-hot in the market in the build-up to the first Classic of the season after impressing in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket in April.
However, Kieran Shoemark appeared to act too late on the three-year-old as his rivals were keeping on from the front.
By the time the jockey kicked Field Of Gold into action, it was too late, and he was held by half a length by Ruling Court.
Veteran trainer John Gosden, who has infamously never won the Guineas, remained somewhat diplomatic in the immediate aftermath.
But a couple of days later, the Clarehaven Stables team announced that Shoemark was no longer their retained rider and they would be using the best jockey available.
Cosmic Year continues to blast his rivals
While many pundits and punters alike agreed that Cosmic Year wouldn’t be out of place in the Guineas after his previous two starts under rules, his sights were lowered by connections.
A winner at Sandown on debut and scoring again on reappearance on the all-weather at Kempton Park in April, Cosmic Year stepped up to Listed level and completed a career hat-trick in the King Charles II Stakes.
The Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh remains an option for Juddmonte and trainer Harry Charlton, while he could also take on the likes of Field Of Gold and Shadow Of Light in the St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Aidan O’Brien draws another blank
Despite being the most prolific trainer in the United Kingdom and Ireland, if not the world, Aidan O’Brien left Newmarket empty-handed in the Guineas once again.
The Ballydoyle handler holds the record for the most 2000 Guineas wins with 10 and has tasted success the 1000 Guineas seven times, but he’s now gone six years without landing the former and four since scoring in the latter.
In fairness, this year wasn’t without its setbacks. The Lion In Winter was the ante-post favourite for much of the off-season, but didn’t reach full fitness in time to participate in the 2000 Guineas—leaving Expanded, who finished ninth, as O’Brien’s sole runner.
The unbeaten Lake Victoria was also a major doubt for the 1000 Guineas, and while she ultimately made the race in the end, she clearly wasn’t at her best when finishing back in sixth.