Ombudsman settles G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes in emphatic fashion

Ombudsman continued his relentless rise to the top of the middle-distance ranks with an exhilarating victory in the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, UK, on Wednesday, 18 June.

The Night Of Thunder colt had only started his career at Newmarket 12 months earlier and was making a first top-level appearance having won four of his five starts, with his sole defeat coming under a penalty on his seasonal return in the G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes.

Having broken on terms, Ombudsman raced exuberantly on the inside of Map Of Stars as the duo were held up at the rear of the eight-strong field, with Continuous setting the pace for his stablemate Los Angeles.

Ombudsman made headway up the inside of Anmaat turning in, although the Godolphin colt found himself trapped behind a wall of horses at the top of the straight.

William Buick was forced to switch several times on the John & Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old before finally finding room towards the outside as Anmaat kicked on into a clear lead passing the furlong pole.

Ombudsman powered home, collaring last season’s Champion Stakes winner Anmaat half a furlong out before quickening away to score by a convincing two lengths. Sea The Fire took third, another two and a half lengths back, with further daylight back to Map Of Stars in fourth.

John Gosden said: “The plan was to just relax off the pace, which was strong and set up for Los Angeles, who is a real dour, long-striding staying horse. It was just the question of getting the luck in the straight.

“William wasn’t in a position where he could swing round the field, it was more a case of waiting for the gap. He was very patient, but I knew when he got a gap at the furlong pole that this horse has an extraordinary turn of foot. So he was patient and he was rewarded.

“Now he’s fully grown and developed - a proper four-year-old - and because Sheikh Mohammed has been very patient with him, he is getting rewarded. When you are a trainer, it’s very nice to train for people who aren’t putting the pressure on.

“He’s a mile-and-a-quarter horse. William said he’s got a lot of speed, but he’s got a wonderful turn of foot. When Ombudsman was being saddled, he was playing, looking forward to it and I think we had him spot-on. He is a horse who, because he hasn’t over-raced this year, you could be looking at the Eclipse with.”

William Buick added: “Ombudsman was impressive. They went a hard gallop. I was always going to have to ride for a bit of luck, and he quickened instantly. I thought he was impressive.

“He is a cool horse, a very talented horse. They went a hard gallop. We were drawn one, we always thought they would go a good gallop. We had to ride for a bit of luck and I had to look for a couple of gaps. The horse was good enough to quicken up from it; he quickened up well and won well in the end. He was the unknown quantity in the race. I thought he was impressive, very impressive.

“I think that was a taste of what’s to come. He has low miles on the clock, he’s an exciting horse, for sure.”