Outstanding Ombudsman doubles up in G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes

Ombudsman became the first horse in more than 30 years to win back-to-back renewals of the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes as he produced another superb display at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, 17 June.

The Night Of Thunder entire had readily defeated Anmaat in the 10-furlong showpiece last year but faced a sterner task this time, with Arc hero Daryz, dual Classic-winning filly Minnie Hauk and Tattersalls Gold Cup victor Almaqam all in opposition.

Devil’s Advocate and Mississippi River also featured in the field and ensured a strong pace, with Ombudsman happy to track his main rivals in second last of the eight-strong field.

The leading duo opened up a significant advantage and entered the home straight some eight lengths clear as William Buick switched Ombudsman out with two and a half furlongs to race.

Ombudsman unleashed a powerful turn of foot a furlong and a half from home, quickening by Almaqam, Daryz and Minnie Hauk in a matter of strides before taking up the running from Devil’s Advocate.

The John & Thady-Gosden trained five-year-old streaked clear inside the final furlong for a commanding four-length success over Minnie Hauk, continuing an unbeaten season that has also yielded wins in the G1 Dubai Turf and G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes.

John Gosden said: “I thought they were going to have to go a bit to get to Devil's Advocate, but Ombudsman has got a phenomenal turn of foot, great acceleration for a mile-and-a-quarter horse, and he just showed that class.

“It’s quite something to come away from a field like that. The filly ran great, the Arc winner ran great, probably the horse who won in Ireland might not have run his race today because he'd usually be in the shake-up, but I thought it was one of the great performances of Ombudsman’s career.

"We will watch him and see where we go. The Juddmonte International will be a major target of course, as he likes York. He is a lovely horse and he will make a good stallion. He has got all the right things, a good mind as well as a fabulous, fabulous body and strength.”

William Buick added: “It’s the biggest week of the year in our sport, with a great atmosphere and great racing. It’s so competitive and winners aren’t easy to come by, you have to fight for them. The Prince of Wales is one of the showcase races of the week and, to ride a horse like Ombudsman and for him to put in a performance like he did, it’s very, very special. He is an unbelievable horse and I feel so privileged to ride a horse like him. He’s a special horse and he can do things that very few horses can.

“He was always in control, I thought. The pace was good and even. I had Daryz in front of me and then Minnie Hauk was ahead of him and I thought everyone was where they wanted to be, or where they needed to be, and I was happy to follow them. He just kept filling up. His performance was absolutely electric.

“When I asked him, he just went past them and kept extending to the line. He really put a stamp on the race.”