Ombudsman proves a class above in International Stakes
The John and Thady Gosden-trained Ombudsman (4 c Night Of Thunder – Syndicate by Dansili) staked his claim as the best middle-distance horse around with an ultra-classy display in Wednesday’s Juddmonte International Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2.5f) at York.
Having landed his maiden Group 1 with a comfortable success in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f) at Royal Ascot in June, the four-year-old was then narrowly denied by a neck in the Coral-Eclipse (Gr 1, 1m 2f) when second to Delacroix (Dubawi).
Re-opposing that rival on Wednesday, Ombudsman was sent in pursuit of his fellow Godolphin-owned pacemaker Birr Castle (Cloth Of Stars), who had gone clear, with two furlongs left to race and produced a decisive turn of foot under William Buick to hit the front inside the final furlong and come three and a half lengths clear of old rival Delacroix.
The Andrew Fabre-trained Birr Castle, who was supplemented to the race last week at a fee of £85,000 (approx. AU$178,140), ran an admirable race from the front to finish third, beaten four lengths.
Japanese raider Danon Decile (Epiphaneia) was placed in second for much of the journey but last year’s Japanese Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner could not produce his best and faded to be well beaten.
Winning rider William Buick said: “A lot of things were going through my mind. I didn’t expect Danon Decile to take back, I thought he would be wanting to chase a good pace.
“I think Rab [Havlin on Birr Castle] did his job beautifully, he finished third. This horse produced an amazing performance, unbelievable, he’s a very, very special horse and he showed all his attributes today.”
Ombudsman holds entries in the Irish Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f), Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) and British Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f). He has yet to race over the mile and a half distance of the French showpiece.
His victory gave the John and Thady Gosden stable their fourth success in the race, with Roaring Lion’s (Kitten’s Joy) win in 2018 coming before Thady officially joined the Clarehaven licence.