Sovereignty & Ombudsman underline dominance with banner performances

Dual Classic winner Sovereignty and outstanding older horse Ombudsman added further lustre to their glittering profiles with statement victories at Saratoga and York last week.

Sovereignty recorded his biggest margin of victory as he took the G1 Travers Stakes on Saturday by 10 lengths, becoming only the second horse since 1942 to add the “Midsummer Derby” to victories in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

Having proved himself as the best three-year-old in North America, Sovereignty will take on the top older dirt horses at Del Mar in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November.

Ombudsman reversed the form with Eclipse Stakes winner Delacroix in convincing fashion as the Night Of Thunder colt scored by three and a half lengths in the G1 Juddmonte International on Wednesday.

A lack of pace had cost Ombudsman at Sandown Park, but Birr Castle ensured a quick gallop this time. The French challenger briefly appeared set to provide an upset result as he built up a commanding lead before being caught close home to finish an admirable third.

Winner of the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes in June, Ombudsman could return to Ascot for October’s G1 Champion Stakes, with the G1 Irish Champion Stakes an option in the interim.

Trawlerman has looked peerless in the staying ranks this year and the seven-year-old followed up his G1 Gold Cup success with victory in Friday’s G2 Lonsdale Cup at York. The son of Golden Horn also looks set to line up on British Champions Day in the newly upgraded G1 British Champions Long Distance Cup, a race he won in 2023.

Ghaiyyath filly My Highness emerged as a leading contender for next year’s Classics after lowering the seven-furlong course record at Deauville on Sunday with an impressive display in the G2 Prix du Calvados. She looks a strong candidate for the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp’s Arc weekend.

Wise Approach also ran well on the same Deauville card as he finished a close third in the G1 Prix Morny. Ground conditions will dictate his next appearance, although he may bid to emulate his half-brother Perfect Power with victory in next month’s G1 Middle Park Stakes.

Everyone at Godolphin, and the whole racing community, mourns the loss of Bruce Raymond, who passed away at the age of 82 on Sunday. A gifted jockey, Bruce became a hugely respected racing manager for the Maktoum family and their friends following his retirement from the saddle. Greatly admired throughout the industry, his passing is a great loss to racing.